CABINET OFFICE

Civil Contingencies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the work of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat.

Jim Murphy: The Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) was set up in 2001 to improve the UK's resilience against disruptive challenges, working in partnership with others at the national, regional and local levels to enhance arrangements for anticipating, assessing, preventing, preparing for, responding to and recovering from all types of disruptive challenge.
	The CCS drives the delivery of improved resilience across the government and the public sector by making sure that the Government can continue to function and deliver public services during a crisis. It achieves this through risk assessment and horizon-scanning activity to identify and assess potential and imminent disruptive challenges to the domestic UK, and by working with others to improve the capability of all levels of government, the wider public sector and the private and voluntary sectors to manage potential challenges.
	A key focus of the CCS's work over the last year has been the Civil Contingencies Act which received Royal Assent in November 2004. The Act and supporting regulations, guidance and non-legislative measures will deliver a single framework for civil protection in the United Kingdom. Part 1 of the Act establishes a clear set of roles and responsibilities for organisations with a role in emergency planning and response at the local level. As enabling legislation, this part of the Act is heavily reliant on supporting regulations and guidance, which are currently under development. Part 2 of the Act modernises the United Kingdom's emergency powers framework and is already in force.

EU Presidency

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to ensure that English wine is served (a) exclusively and (b) at the request of guests at meals, parties and receptions hosted by his Department during the EU presidency; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: In planning presidency events, the Cabinet Office's principal objective is to source the most suitable venue for each event in terms of facilities, accessibility and overall value for money. Wherever possible, conference organisers will make arrangements to serve British produce, including English wine.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

British Board of Film Classification

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the examiners at the British Board of Film Classification; what the professional background of each is; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent company and my right hon. Friend has no locus to provide the information the hon. Member requests. Examiners employed by the BBFC make recommendations on film classification to the BBFC's director, David Cooke, who has the responsibility for all such decisions. Ultimately, it is for local authorities to decide whether to accept the classification awarded by the BBFC to films for cinema release or to impose their own.

Digital Television

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance will be given to (a) pensioners and (b) people on low incomes to switch to digital television.

James Purnell: The Government are committed to ensuring that the interests of the most vulnerable consumers are protected during digital switchover and have proposed that the BBC help establish and fund appropriate support. We will announce details of the scope of this assistance in due course.
	As part of the process of detailed scheme design, we and the BBC will run a trial later this year in the Bolton ward of Hulton, in association with SwitchCo and Bolton metropolitan borough council. The aim of the trial is to assess the effectiveness of various forms of assistance, with leaflets, telephone helplines and support from carers and social workers among the methods being piloted.

Licensing Act 2003

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received from sports clubs about the impact on them of the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: Since 16 May, my Department has received 22 letters from sports clubs via their constituent MPs, one letter from the National Golf Clubs Advisory Association and another from the English Golf Union, and two letters from individual sports clubs. Most of the letters have concerned the impact of the 2003 Act's fee structure on the running of sports club bars. My Department recently announced the Independent Review Panel, chaired by Sir Les Elton, which will review fee levels and associated costs, including those payable by amateur sports clubs.

Licensing Act 2003

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the number of premises licence applications for variations to include live music that will be made under the transitional provisions for the Licensing Act 2003 by (a) 6 August and (b) 24 November; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Government estimate that during the transitional period, 65 per cent. of all applications to convert existing licences into new premises licences will include some form of variation. We have no estimate on what proportion of variations would involve live music. The Government established the Live Music Forum to promote the take-up of reforms in the Licensing Act 2003 relating to the performance of live music.

Ofcom

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what means her Department uses to assess the effectiveness of Ofcom in upholding its duties to citizens and consumers; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is a public corporation, operating independently from Government, principally under the terms of the Communications Act 2003 and the Office of Communications Act 2002. The Office of Communications Act requires Ofcom to report annually to the Secretary of State on the carrying out of their functions during the financial year and a copy of this report is laid before each House. In addition, DCMS and DTI Ministers and their departmental officials meet regularly with the Ofcom chairman and senior officials to discuss issues relating to the exercise of Ofcom's statutory functions.

Radio Station Licences

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications there were for local radio station licences in (a) 2004 and (b) to date in 2005.

James Purnell: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

DEFENCE

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Gibraltar; and how many and what types of aircraft use the base.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence is committed to the future of Gibraltar and its defence outputs, including the airport.
	There are no permanently based aircraft at RAF Gibraltar but the base is available for use by all the United Kingdom military aircraft except Tri-Star, VC10 and E3 due to runway length performance restrictions.
	The following aircraft have used the base in the last year:
	UK military
	C130
	C17
	Tornado F3
	Tornado GR4
	Jaguar
	Nimrod
	BA 146
	BA 125
	Hawk
	Puma
	Merlin
	Chinook
	Sea Harrier
	Falcon DA 20
	Lynx
	Foreign military
	C130
	CP140
	C12
	Fokker 50
	C560
	C26
	P3
	Learjet
	C160
	Lynx
	Sea King
	Sea Hawk
	CN235
	C40
	In 2004 there were 1,358 military movements.
	Details of civil flights are not held. The largest civil aircraft regularly handled is the B757. Schedules are flown by B757 and A320 but numerous types, from light aircraft/powered gliders upwards, are regular visitors.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many other nations' air forces have used RAF Gibraltar in the last three years; and how many and what type of aircraft were involved.

Adam Ingram: Aircraft from the eight other nations' air forces have used Gibraltar in the last three years. 61 aircraft of the following types were involved: C130, C26, C12, P3, C40, Learjet, Sea Hawk, CP140, C160, C560, CN235, Fokker 50, Lynx, and Sea King.

Maritime Forces

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the (a) Royal Navy and (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels which are not at full operational readiness in consequence of the STOROB process of cannibalisation.

Adam Ingram: No units are at a reduced state of readiness as a result of the STOROB process.

Prisoners of War

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the report made to Multi-National Division (South East) by the (a) Prisoner of War Registration Unit and (b) Prisoner Monitoring Team at Camp Bucca has been forwarded to his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: To the best of our knowledge, no reports made by the Prisoner of War Registration Unit or Prisoner of War Monitoring Team were forwarded to the Ministry of Defence.

RN Patrol Boats

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current whereabouts of the three Royal Naval patrol boats seized by Iran in June 2004; what representations he has made to the government of Iran since their seizure; and what his assessment is of the date of their likely return to the UK.

John Reid: Current information indicates that the three patrol boats are being held in South West Iran. We have maintained a dialogue with the Iranian authorities since June 2004 and, at every opportunity, continue to press for their return.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Advertisements

Mark Tami: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition his Department uses of a (a) fixed and (b) mobile site for posters and advertisements.

Yvette Cooper: There is no definition of a fixed or mobile site. The definition of site is in the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992. Sites are not characterised as fixed or mobile. The extent of the site is a matter for the local planning authority to decide bearing in mind all the circumstances of the case.

Affordable Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) affordable homes and (b) homes for rent were provided with public funds in Lancashire in each of the last five years, broken down by district council area.

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the number of low-cost home ownership units for sale, and units for rent, provided with public funds through the Housing Corporation in local authorities in Lancashire from 200001 to 200405.
	
		
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
			  (a) Sale (b) Rent (a) Sale (b) Rent (a) Sale (b) Rent (a) Sale (b) Rent (a) Sale (b) Rent 
		
		
			 Burnley 16 16 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 6 
			 Chorley 0 15 0 18 0 14 4 12 13 9 
			 Fylde 0 2 0 45 7 36 7 20 0 29 
			 Hyndburn 0 44 0 35 0 10 0 13 0 6 
			 Lancaster 16 61 0 20 28 41 2 7 6 36 
			 Pendle 0 30 0 63 0 38 0 19 0 1 
			 Preston 13 170 0 68 0 71 8 91 17 13 
			 Ribble Valley 19 15 5 11 0 0 0 0 0 8 
			 Rossendale 17 3 0 20 0 8 0 13 0 0 
			 South Ribble 2 41 8 37 10 59 10 2 22 16 
			 Wyre 3 152 12 36 0 68 48 33 0 23 
			 Total Lancashire 86 549 25 357 45 345 79 210 58 147 
		
	
	The figures include properties provided through the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme, the Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) and Transitional LASHG; and the Safer Communities Social Housing Fund.
	Figures do not include Right to Acquire or Voluntary Purchase Grant sales, as these are losses to social housing stock.

Council Tax

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will reconsider the proposed capping of Hambleton district council's tax.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been giving careful consideration to the challenges which the designated authorities have made to the caps proposed by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and we aim to announce decisions before the summer recess. Any in year capping will be subject to approval of an order by the House of Commons.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what expenditure in total has been incurred so far on the council tax revaluation in England by (a) his Department, (b) the Valuation Office Agency and (c) other Government Departments and agencies.

Phil Woolas: The information is as follows:
	(a) The cost of council tax revaluation for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not separately identified.
	(b) The Valuation Office Agency incurred costs of 31.8 million up to 31 March 2005.
	(c) The cost for the Valuation Tribunal Service is not separately identified.

English Partnerships

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much land English Partnerships owns in each Lancashire district.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships currently owns around 800 hectares of land in Lancashire, including two recently acquired former hospital sites at Whittingham, Preston (81 ha) and Lancaster Moor (18.5 ha), which can be broken down by district as follows:
	
		
			 District Hectares 
		
		
			 Preston 567.2 
			 South Kibble 59.4 
			 Chorley 54.6 
			 Skelmersdale 99.5 
			 Lancaster 18.5

English Partnerships

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with English Partnerships on securing a better return on resources under its ownership.

Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships seeks to ensure that its resources and assets are utilised efficiently and effectively in support of Government's objectives for sustainable communities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has regular meetings with English Partnerships at all levels to discuss its programme and utilisation of resources. One of the key elements of this is the annual corporate planning process where English Partnerships' Corporate plan is discussed and agreed by ODPM officials and Ministers.
	Effective use of resources and value for money are primary considerations and English Partnerships' project appraisal and approvals processes are kept under regular review.

Fire Service (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many attacks have taken place on fire crews in (a) Southend and (b) Essex in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I understand from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service that information on attacks has been collected for the last two months, and that during this period they have recorded two attacks. It is not known whether either was in Southend.

Fire Service (Essex)

David Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average response time was to an emergency call to the Fire Brigade in each Essex borough in each of the last eight years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Flooding (North Yorkshire)

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will propose a moratorium on planning applications for construction of buildings on (a) functional flood plains and (b) areas that have recently experienced flooding problems.

Yvette Cooper: Owners and developers of land cannot be prevented from submitting applications, but Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 25 advises that permissions for built development should be wholly exceptional in the functional floodplains, where water has to flow or be stored in times of flood. The exceptions are limited to essential transport and utilities infrastructure that has to be there, or recreational and amenity facilities suitable for a waterside location. PPG25 applies a sequential test to new development in all areas considered to be at risk of flooding, so as to direct development to areas of lower risk. It requires a flood risk assessment to accompany applications for planning permission in all areas at risk of flooding.

Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing urban development corporations in the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder areas in England; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Housing market renewal pathfinder intervention areas are tightly defined to encompass largely residential areas with the greatest concentrations of housing in low demand. The pathfinder partnerships of local authorities, the private sector and others are working well together to renew housing markets. Urban Regeneration Companies or other regeneration vehicles are active in the areas of many pathfinders and co-operation between the two brings a strong economic development dimension into pathfinder strategies and programmes.

London Housing Board

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he expects to receive the London Housing Board's recommendations on funding allocations for 2006 to 2008;
	(2)  if he will place a copy of the London Housing Board's recommendations on funding allocations for 2006 to 2008 in the Library;
	(3)  when he expects to reach a decision on the London Housing Board's recommendations on funding allocations for 2006 to 2008.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has recently received the London Housing Board's submission setting its recommendations on the allocation of Regional Housing Pot funds for 200607 and 200708. The submission and the associated London Housing Strategy are being placed on the Government Office for London's website (www.gos.gov.uk/gol). We will be announcing decisions on their, and other regions, recommendations shortly.

Mobile Phone Masts

Michael Mates: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of planning procedures for mobile phone masts.

Yvette Cooper: Current planning guidance for all electronic communication developments is set out in planning policy guidance note 8 (revised) (PPG8). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also issued a Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development. It provides more detailed advice than is contained in planning policy guidance note 8.
	In September last year the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister commissioned the University of Reading and Arup to undertake an independent study to assess the impact that the code of best practice on mobile phone network development has had since its introduction. The report will be published in due course. On 4 April I announced the Government will be commissioning further research to identify the future direction of mobile phone technology and the future need for mast developments.

Motorway Advertisements

Mark Tami: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on the siting of advertisements on land adjacent to motorways.

Yvette Cooper: Outdoor advertisements are controlled by local planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992.
	Most advertisements on land directly facing motorways and major roads require the express consent from the relevant local planning authority as well as prior permission from the landowner before they may be displayed lawfully. When considering whether an advertisement should be allowed to be displayed, the local planning authority must consider amenity and public safety aspects on a site-specific basis.
	Local planning authorities have enforcement powers to deal with advertisements displayed unlawfully.

Neighbourhood Renewal Support Fund

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the floor targets for Neighbourhood Renewal Support Fund are; what the performance of Newcastle upon Tyne against those targets was; and what the average performance against those targets in (a) the North East and (b) England was.

Phil Woolas: Floor targets are an advance in how Government tackles disadvantage. They are delivered by Government Departments and contribute to the overarching Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Public Service Agreement, (PSA) 1 target, on neighbourhood renewal and social exclusion.
	Floor targets for neighbourhood renewal:
	Help reduce the gap between the poorest areas and the rest of the country.
	Show what the priorities should be at a local level.
	Make sure that where public services are failing, they get better.
	Areas in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund resources focus on delivering floor targets and targets agreed locally.
	The latest floor target performance data we hold centrally have been made available in the Library of the House, although more up to date data may be available locally. These graphs show the performance of Newcastle upon Tyne, the North East average, the average performance of all areas in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, and the England average for each of the key outcome areas (health, education, crime, worklessness, and liveability). We do not have a graph for housing, as centrally we only have data on council-owned dwellings.
	Further floor target performance data can be found at Floor Targets Interactive http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=21

Neighbourhood Renewal Support Fund

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library (a) the assessment of each (i) output and (ii) super output area of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne against the factors in the matrix of deprivation and (b) the rating of each post-2004 electoral ward in the city of Newcastle against (A) each factor and (B) the combined indicator in the index of deprivation.

Phil Woolas: The Indices of Deprivation 2004 (ID 2004) was created only at lower layer Super Output Area level (SOA), with summaries of the SOA level data at local authority and county council levels. It is therefore only possible to provide ranks for each SOA in Newcastle upon Tyne against the seven individual domains and the overall Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD 2004) and this information has been made available in the Library of the House.

New Build (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many homes have been built in Lancashire in each of the last five years, broken down by district council area.

Yvette Cooper: The annual numbers of new build completions reported for each of the housing authorities in Lancashire since 200001 are tabled as follows.
	
		Numbers of new build completions
		
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Blackburn and Darwen 524 400 407 347 221 
			 Blackpool 227 521 206 141 290 
			 Burnley 260 96 77 132 81 
			 Chorley 412 404 464 385 229 
			 Fylde 241 184 248 327 215 
			 Hyndburn 178 143 164 169 170 
			 Lancaster 284 172 459 500 192 
			 Pendle 207 272 159 158 177 
			 Preston 360 401 82 289 718 
			 Kibble Valley 198 172 187 226 157 
			 Rossendale 59 148 158 208 318 
			 South Kibble 237 330 523 269 345 
			 West Lancashire 340 274 411 256 422 
			 Wyre 493 398 368 381 208 
		
	
	Source:
	Returns (P2/NHBC) to ODPM on building control completions.

Planning (London)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions the Mayor of London exercised his power to direct a refusal of a planning application in each of the last five years for each London borough; and how many were subsequently subject to an appeal where permission was (a) granted and (b) not granted.

Yvette Cooper: The information is in the following tables.
	
		2001
		
			Appeal SofS 
			 Borough Direct Refusal Direction withdrawn Granted Refused 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham1   1 
			 Brent 1   1 
			 Bromley 1 1   
			 Greenwich 1 1   
			 Harrow 1 1   
			 Lambeth (1)1
			 Merton 1 1   
			 Tower Hamlets 1 1   
			 Westminster 1 1   
		
	
	
		2002
		
			Appeal SofS 
			 Borough Direct refusal Direction withdrawn Granted Refused 
		
		
			 Brent 2((1)1) 1   
			 Bromley 2  1 1 
			 Havering (1)1
			 Hillingdon 1  1  
			 Lewisham (1)1
			 Southwark 1 1   
		
	
	
		2003
		
			Appeal SofS 
			 Borough Direct refusal Direction withdrawn Granted Refused 
		
		
			 City 1 1   
			 Lambeth 1 1   
		
	
	
		2004
		
			Appeal SofS 
			 Borough Direct refusal Direction withdrawn Granted Refused 
		
		
			 Richmond 1 1   
			 Southwark (2)1
			 Sutton 2 2   
		
	
	
		2005
		
			Appeal SofS 
			 Borough Direct refusal Direction withdrawn Granted Refused 
		
		
			 Havering (3)1
			 Lewisham 1 1   
			 Newham (3)1
			 Southwark 1 1   
		
	
	(1) No appeal.
	(2) Awaiting appeal decision.
	(3) Still considering whether to appeal.

Safer Stronger Communities Fund

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the allocation for Birmingham local authority is from the Safer Stronger Communities fund for 200506; and what the population of Birmingham local authority area is.

Phil Woolas: The Safer Stronger Communities fund (SSCF) allocation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) for Birmingham in 200506 and the population of Birmingham local authority area are detailed in the table:
	
		Safer Stronger Communities Fund
		
			  
		
		
			 Region West Midlands 
			 Unitary/district/CDRP Birmingham 
			 Community Empowerment Networks (CENs) 1,314,023 
			 Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders (NMPs)  
			 Street crime wardens (SCW) 229,343 
			 200506 ODPM total 1,543,366 
			 Population estimate 992,100

Safer Stronger Communities Fund

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the allocation for Walsall local authority is from the Safer Stronger Communities fund for 200506; and what the population of Walsall local authority area is.

Phil Woolas: The Safer Stronger Communities fund (SSCF) allocation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) for Walsall in 200506 and the population of Walsall local authority area are detailed in the table:
	
		Safer Stronger Communities Fund
		
			  
		
		
			 Region West Midlands 
			 Unitary/district/CDRP Walsall 
			 Community Empowerment Networks (CENs) 562,142 
			 Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders (NMPs)  
			 Street crime wardens (SCW)  
			 200506 ODPM total 562,142 
			 Population estimate 252,400

Safer Stronger Communities Fund

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the allocation for Wolverhampton local authority is from the Safer Stronger Communities fund for 200506; and what the population of Wolverhampton local authority area is.

Phil Woolas: The Safer Stronger Communities fund (SSCF) allocation from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) for Wolverhampton in 200506 and the population of Wolverhampton local authority area are detailed in the table:
	
		Safer Stronger Communities Fund
		
			  
		
		
			 Region West Midlands 
			 Unitary/district/CDRP Wolverhampton 
			 Community Empowerment Networks (CENs) 602,392 
			 Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders (NMPs)  
			 Street crime wardens (SCW) 225,466 
			 200506 ODPM total 827,858 
			 Population estimate 238,900

Social Housing

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will provide additional support for Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council for the provision of social housing.

Yvette Cooper: Decisions on the overall funding for provision of additional social and other affordable housing in 200607 and 200708 through the Housing Corporation's Affordable Housing Programme will be taken over the summer. Detailed allocations to individual local authority areas will be made early next year in the light of priorities identified in Regional Housing Strategies and the quality and value for money of bids made to the Housing Corporation.

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the running costs were of the Standards Board for England in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: Information on the amount of grant provided to the Standards Board for England each year is given as follows.
	
		
			  Grant ( million) 
		
		
			 200102 2.646 
			 200203 6.514 
			 200304 8.944 
			 200405 8.94 
			 200506 (expected) 9.181

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many cases were reported to the Standards Board for England in each of the last five years; and in how many cases standards were found to have been breached.

Phil Woolas: Information on the total number of cases received each year by the Standards Board for England since its establishment, and the number of determinations where breaches of the code of conduct for members were confirmed, is given as follows.
	
		
			  200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Total cases received by the Standards Board 2,948 3,566 3,861 
			 Determinations made by the Adjudication Panel or local Standards Committees confirming a breach of the code 29 162 119

Standards Board for England

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average cost of an investigation by the Standards Board for England was in 200405.

Phil Woolas: The Standards Board for England estimates that the current average cost of an investigation into allegations of a breach of the code of conduct is around 5,000 per case.

Surgery Car Parking

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he gives planning authorities concerning car parking requirements for (a) dental surgeries and (b) general practitioners surgeries in residential areas; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not given guidance on this specific topic. General guidance on parking in planning policy guidance note (PPG) 13 Transport stresses the need to restrict the amount of parking in new developments as part of a package of planning and transport measures, to promote sustainable travel choices. Local authorities should in development plan documents set maximum levels of parking for broad classes of development which may include surgeries, and parking for disabled people should be additional to these maximum parking standards.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine TB

Edward Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered in the last recorded month as a result of bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: Latest provisional TB statistics for Great Britain indicate that 1,964 cattle were slaughtered as bovine tuberculosis reactors or direct contacts in May 2005.

Environmental Policies

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her environmental priorities for the UK presidency of the European Union.

Margaret Beckett: A key priority is climate change action, working with EU partners and internationally, prior to the Kyoto convention meeting in Montreal. Also, progress on the REACH chemicals regulation and the EU Sustainable Development Strategy.

EU Sugar Regime

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications for the British sugar industry of the European Commission's proposals for reform of the EU sugar regime.

Margaret Beckett: The Commission's proposals are a step change towards removing the market distortions which stop UK processors and growers benefiting from their relative efficiency and comparative advantage. The package includes a voluntary restructuring scheme and decoupled support payments to help in the adjustment process.

Fisheries

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fatalities of UK fishermen she estimates were caused by fishing vessels operated by other EU states in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is not held by the Department for Transport (DfT).
	The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) of DfT record details of fatalities aboard UK registered fishing vessels. From 1999 to 2004 there were 80 fatalities to crew of UK registered fishing vessels. The nationalities of these are not recorded, but are likely to be predominantly UK. None of these fatalities has been recorded by MAIB as involving a fishing vessel registered in another EU state.

Fly-tipping

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what advice her Department gives to local authorities on measures to combat fly-tipping.

Ben Bradshaw: Guidance was issued to local authorities, and others, on the new powers to tackle fly-tipping that were included in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 and which were commenced with effect from 7 June. The 2005 Act contains further powers for local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices for some offences. The Department is funding ENCAMS to provide training for local authorities on how to use these powers later in 2005, in advance of the powers being commenced in April 2006.
	We are funding the Environment Agency through a project known as Flycapture Enforcement to provide additional training for local authority enforcement officers and local authority lawyers on how to successfully build cases against those responsible for fly-tipping offences and on hew to use the full range of enforcement powers that are now available to them. It is hoped that this training will be available from September.
	Finally, we have commissioned the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science to carry out research into the causes and incentives of fly-tipping. One of the outputs of this work will be a good practice guide for local authorities on effective strategies for reducing fly tipping levels in their area. This should be available in the spring of 2006.

Newcastle Brown Ale

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) product specification, (b) production and (c) content disclosures were required as a result of the granting of protected geographical indicator status to Newcastle Brown Ale in 1998; and in what form such disclosures were made.

Jim Knight: Newcastle Brown Ale was registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) under Article 17 of EC Regulation 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs. Article 17, which no longer applies, required the applicant to send the full product specification, including a list of raw materials and the method of production, to the competent authority in their member state. Article 17 did not require the publication of a summary specification in the Official Journal of the European Union. However, a copy of the, summary specification is available at www.defra.gov.uk/foodnn/foodname/UKingdom/newbrown.htm.

Newcastle Brown Ale

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations were carried out on the proposed removal of protected geographical indicator status from Newcastle Brown Ale; in what form comments were sought; and how many replies were received.

Jim Knight: Defra wrote to the relevant industry organisations on 9 July 2004 and invited written comments from them. In addition, officials were already in correspondence with CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) about the application by the producers for cancellation of the registration of protected geographical indication status for Newcastle Brown Ale. The Department has, to date, received two replies, including the correspondence from CAMRA.

Pet Cemeteries

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the hon. Member for Wight will receive the substantive reply promised in the Prime Minister's letter of 2 June concerning his response of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 699, about pet cemeteries.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 6 July 2005
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 4 July and explained that I was taking up the issue with the Environment Agency on the subject of fees for the regulation of pet cemeteries. I will write to the hon. Member substantively in due course and place a copy of my letter in the Library.

Press Officers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press officers the Department and its predecessors employed in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Jim Knight: Defra was set up in June 2001. Figures relating to the number of press officers by the Departments subsumed into the new Department would not correspond accurately to the scope of the current press office.
	Year on year comparisons since that date are as follows:
	
		
			 As at June Press officers 
		
		
			 2001 22 
			 2002 22 
			 2003 22 
			 2004 18 
			 2005 24 
		
	
	The numbers vary within the course of any one year.
	The information on costs of press officers could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the salary and directly related costs for all permanent and temporary staff for both press officers and support staff were as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year  million 
		
		
			 200102 1.3 
			 200203 1.2 
			 200304 1.1 
			 200405 1.3

Rural Pathfinders

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the Rural Pathfinders in England; on what date each was established; and what outcomes they have achieved since inception.

Jim Knight: There are eight rural delivery pathfinders, one in each of the Government Office regions (outside London):
	Dorset;
	Fens area of Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Peterborough;
	Hampshire;
	Humber sub-region (covering East Riding of Yorkshire Council, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire);
	Lancashire;
	Peak District Rural Action Zone (covering the Derbyshire High Peak and Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands and East Staffordshire areas of the Peak District National Park);
	Shropshire; and
	West Durham (covering Teesdale and Wear Valley).
	Announced as part of the Government's Rural Strategy in July 2004, the pathfinders were formally-launched on 14 March 2005 and will run through to April 2007. It is too early to expect outcomes from the work to date but the pathfinders have been working closely with their local and regional partners to develop a shared agreed business plan to tackle local priorities and identify practical solutions to gaps, blockages or failures in service delivery to rural customers.

Rural Pathfinders

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the terms of reference of the Rural Pathfinder for the Peak District are; which other agencies are involved in its work; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: As set out in the pathfinders prospectus published in March 2005, a copy of which has been made available in the Library of the House, the overall aim of the rural delivery pathfinders is to explore and test opportunities for more joined up, flexible and effective approaches to rural delivery at a local level. This includes innovation in rural development and delivery of services in rural areas, and better prioritisation of existing resources, in line with local priorities, towards areas, communities and people with the greatest needs. The prospectus sets out in more detail the overarching framework within which all pathfinders, including the one in the Peak District Rural Action Zone, are operating.
	In the Peak District RAZ pathfinder, the focus is on access to services with particular emphasis on access to support a sustainable rural economy and community regeneration. Local priorities for action include affordable housing, sustainable tourism, promoting local distinctiveness, learning and skills, and enhancing and sustaining a high quality environment. More detail can be found in the outline business plan published at the pathfinders launch on 14 March 2005 (and to be found at http://wwwdefra.gov.uk/rural/ruraldelivery/pathfinders/default.htm)
	From the outset the pathfinder has aimed for an inclusive approach; the cross-border nature of the area makes this imperative. The steering group formed to oversee the preparatory work for the pathfinder involves two Local Strategic Partnerships (Derbyshire and Staffordshire), six local authorities, a National Park Authority, a sub-regional Strategic Partnership, the voluntary and community sector, representation from the Natural England confederation, a Rural Community Council, a Government Office and RDA. further linkages are being developed with other partners within the East and West Midlands.
	The pathfinders represent a key element of DEFRA's agenda to ensure that decisions on service delivery can be taken closer to the customer. We have allowed local areas to set the agenda for what they tackle. This is critical because we are embarked on a radical process of improving the way in which we support rural delivery, as outlined in Rural Strategy 2004. The pathfinders provide us and our delivery partners with an opportunity to recognise and respond to difficulties and opportunities and better meet rural needs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Guinea-Bissau

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the (a) transparency and (b) legitimacy of the recent election in Guinea-Bissau.

Ian Pearson: The European Union Election Observation Mission, along with other international observers, considered the first round of presidential elections to have been peaceful and generally well administered in line with international principles for democratic elections. On 23 June the UN Security Council expressed its satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly manner in which the polls took place. We welcome the fact that all candidates have now accepted the results of the poll and encourage all parties in Guinea-Bissau to continue to respect the democratic process when the second round of elections takes place on 24 July.

Liberia

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to facilitate the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor for violation of international humanitarian law.

Ian Pearson: The UK Government believe that Charles Taylor should face justice at the Special Court for Sierra Leone. We have made this clear to the Nigerian Government and will continue to do so. We remain in discussion with Nigeria and our international partners over the next steps.

Witchcraft

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has passed to the Home Office information the Department has gathered on the impact on children of being accused of witchcraft, with particular reference to countries in Africa.

Ian Pearson: We have not to date passed any information on this subject to the Home Office because we do not hold anything relevant. We do, however, forward information from our overseas posts to home Departments where relevant.

HEALTH

Advertising Campaigns

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the health-related advertising campaigns commissioned since February 2002, indicating the (a) objectives, (b) start and end dates, (c) media used, (d) criteria used to assess the effectiveness, (e) extent to which effectiveness criteria were met, (f) agency used and (g) cost of each.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The Department's advertising is commissioned through the Central Office of Information. Expenditure from 200102 to 200405 is shown in the following table. Information on objectives, start and end dates, media used criteria used to assess the effectiveness, extent to which effectiveness criteria were met and agency used can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		 million
		
			  Advertising expenditure 
			 Campaign 200203 200304 200405 200506(4) 
		
		
			 Antibiotics 0.44 0.42   
			 Campaign against living miserably (CALM) 0.10
			 Drugs 1.5 1.5 0.91 0.9 
			 Influenza 2.0 1.6 1.5  
			 Hepatitis C 
			 Immunisation 1.0 2.0  0.01 
			 Mind Out for Mental Health 0.15
			 National health service, including nurse recruitment 4.225 4.9 5.80 .002 
			 NHS Direct 0.58 0.75   
			 Organ donation 0.21
			 Prescription fraud 0.30
			 Sexwise/teenage pregnancy 1.6 2.0   
			 Sexual health 1.5 1.5 1.12  
			 NHS dentistry recruitment   0.12  
			 Social/care worker recruitment 1.23 4.62 1.80  
			 Smoking 7.87 17.76 20.36 0.24 
			 Tuberculosis awareness 0.09
			 WinterGet the Right Treatment, Ask about Medicines day 0.25 1.75 0.54  
			 E111   0.32 0.483 
			 Total 23.045 38.8 32.4 1.635 
		
	
	(4) To date.

Alcohol Abuse (Children)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children were admitted to hospital in each London strategic health authority owing to alcohol-related problems in 200405.

Jane Kennedy: The table shows the latest figures available for finished admission episodes and alcohol-related problems for under 18 age group in London strategic health authorities in 200304. Please note that alcohol related is not a clearly defined condition and there may be some differences in the diagnostic codes used for different cases. The table includes diagnosis codes for alcohol-related diseases, which are defined by a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders due to alcohol, alcoholic liver disease or toxic effect of alcohol.
	
		Counts of finished admission episodes for selected alcohol-related diseases(5) by London SHA of residenceAge at admission between 017 years
		
			   Finished admission episodes 
		
		
			 Q04 North West London 86 
			 Q05 North Central London 62 
			 Q06 North East London 86 
			 Q07 South East London 88 
			 Q08 South West London 135 
			  Total 457 
		
	
	(5) Alcohol-related diseases defined as following ICD-10 codes recorded in primary diagnosis
	F10 Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	K70 Alcoholic liver disease
	T51 Toxic effect of alcohol
	Notes:
	1. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	2. The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital episode statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Asthma

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) adults and (b) children per 100 population diagnosed with asthma there are in each London borough.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not collect figures on adults and children per 100 population diagnosed with asthma.
	The table shows the count of finished admission episodes and counts per 100 population for admitted care episodes in national health service hospitals where asthma was the primary diagnosis, in each London local authority district of residence in 200304.
	
		Primary diagnosis asthma (ICD-10 codes 345346). Finished admission episodes. London local authority of residenceNational health service hospitals, England 200304
		
			  Finished admission episodes, 200304 (6)Mid-2003 resident population estimates for all London boroughs 
			 Local authority of residence Children (017) Adults (18+) All ages Children (017) Adults (18+) All ages 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 84 139 223 42,769 123,093 165,862 
			 Barnet 145 238 383 72,319 252,051 324,370 
			 Bexley 115 156 271 51,028 168,051 219,079 
			 Brent 122 207 329 58,128 209,638 267,766 
			 Bromley 148 157 305 65,986 232,353 298,339 
			 Camden 110 143 253 37,960 172,701 210,661 
			 City of London * *  841 7,202 8,043 
			 Croydon 196 242 438 80,205 256,483 336,688 
			 Ealing 160 367 527 65,819 239,200 305,019 
			 Enfield 106 122 228 65,288 215,061 280,349 
			 Greenwich 127 245 372 52,233 171,453 223,686 
			 Hackney 230 230 460 52,552 155,813 208,365 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 78 131 209 31,180 143,024 174,204 
			 Haringey 111 126 237 50,045 174,683 224,728 
			 Harrow 83 144 227 47,706 163,039 210,745 
			 Havering 91 145 236 49,664 174,918 224,582 
			 Hillingdon 79 178 257 57,282 190,367 247,649 
			 Hounslow 98 240 338 47,918 164,993 212,911 
			 Islington 91 137 228 35,223 144,890 180,113 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 45 74 119 29,339 145,020 174,359 
			 Kingston upon Thames 80 98 178 31,135 119,272 150,407 
			 Lambeth 165 234 399 55,463 213,083 268,546 
			 Lewisham 186 173 359 56,596 191,733 248,329 
			 Merton 103 106 209 40,128 151,270 191,398 
			 Newham 148 237 385 69,702 180,947 250,649 
			 Redbridge 112 178 290 58,062 187,063 245,125 
			 Richmond upon Thames 54 135 189 36,718 142,493 179,211 
			 Southwark 178 261 439 55,470 198,344 253,814 
			 Sutton 116 90 206 41,258 137,281 178,539 
			 Tower Hamlets 88 192 280 50,323 156,266 206,589 
			 Waltham Forest 123 192 315 51,742 169,835 221,577 
			 Wandsworth 106 211 317 46,028 228,120 274,148 
			 Westminster, City of 73 104 177 32,621 189,397 222,018 
			 London total 3,751 5,632 9,383 1,618,731 5,769,137 7,387,868 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage of finished admission episodes in resident population 
			 Local authority of residence Children (017) Adults (18+) All ages 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 0.20 0.11 0.13 
			 Barnet 0.20 0.09 0.12 
			 Bexley 0.23 0.09 0.12 
			 Brent 0.21 0.10 0.12 
			 Bromley 0.22 0.07 0.10 
			 Camden 0.29 0.08 0.12 
			 City of London
			 Croydon 0.24 0.09 0.13 
			 Ealing 0.24 0.15 0.17 
			 Enfield 0.16 0.06 0.08 
			 Greenwich 0.24 0.14 0.17 
			 Hackney 0.44 0.15 0.22 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 0.25 0.09 0.12 
			 Haringey 0.22 0.07 0.11 
			 Harrow 0.17 0.09 0.11 
			 Havering 0.18 0.08 0.11 
			 Hillingdon 0.14 0.09 0.10 
			 Hounslow 0.20 0.15 0.16 
			 Islington 0.26 0.09 0.13 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 0.15 0.05 0.07 
			 Kingston upon Thames 0.26 0.08 0.12 
			 Lambeth 0.30 0.11 0.15 
			 Lewisham 0.33 0.09 0.14 
			 Merton 0.26 0.07 0.11 
			 Newham 0.21 0.13 0.15 
			 Redbridge 0.19 0.10 0.12 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0.15 0.09 0.11 
			 Southwark 0.32 0.13 0.17 
			 Sutton 0.28 0.07 0.12 
			 Tower Hamlets 0.17 0.12 0.14 
			 Waltham Forest 0.24 0.11 0.14 
			 Wandsworth 0.23 0.09 0.12 
			 Westminster, City of 0.22 0.05 0.08 
			 London total 0.23 0.10 0.13 
		
	
	(6) Mid-2003 Resident Population Estimates for all London boroughs is provided by Demography and Geography, Health and Social Care Information Centre
	Notes:
	Finished admission episodes
	A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.
	Diagnosis (Primary Diagnosis)
	The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	Ungrossed Data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).
	Low Numbers
	Due to reasons of confidentiality, figures between 1 and 5 have been suppressed and replaced with *.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraisal of the use of Methylphenidate in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), published in October 2000, estimated the prevalence of all types of ADHD at around 5 per cent., of school-aged children, or approximately 345,000 six to 16-year-olds in England.

Bacteriophages

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the suitability of bacteriophage in methods to reduce MRSA infection; and what representations she has received on such suitability.

Jane Kennedy: The available evidence suggests that bacteriophages may have a role in helping to control health care acquired infections, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is for any company or individual, who believes they have a product that has an effective role to play in combating health care acquired infections to refer to the rapid review panel, when appropriate.

Blood Donations

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have given blood in London in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the number of donors and donations of blood collected in the Greater London area between 2000 and 2005 is shown in the table. Thousand
	
		
			  Active donors Collections 
		
		
			 200001 188.5 (7) 
			 200102 176.8 238.6 
			 200203 172.5 226.3 
			 200304 164.8 216.7 
			 200405 152.9 196.0 
		
	
	(7) The National Blood Service (NBS) collects such information in a different geographical format, so it is unable to provide information on the number of collections in the Greater London area for 200001.
	Source:
	NBS

Children's Hospices

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list children's hospices, broken down by region; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There are now 35 registered children's hospices in England. In addition, a small number are at the planning stage. A full list of the current hospices is shown in the following table.
	
		Registered children's hospices in England
		
			 Hospice  
		
		
			 South East  
			 Chestnut Tree House Arundel 
			 Christopher's (Children's Hospice) Guildford 
			 Demelza House Children's Hospice Sittingbourne 
			 Helen House and Douglas House Oxfordshire 
			 Naomi House Children's Hospice Winchester 
			   
			 London  
			 Richard House Children's Hospice Beckton, London 
			 Haven House Woodford Green, London 
			   
			 South West  
			 Children's Hospice South West Barnstaple 
			   
			 East of England  
			 East Anglia Children's Hospice Ipswich 
			 East Anglia Children's Hospice Milton, Cambridge 
			 East Anglia Children's Hospice Quidenham, Norwich 
			 Pasque Hospice Luton 
			 Little Haven Children's Hospice Benfleet, Essex 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 Acorns Children's Hospice Birmingham 
			 Acorns Children's Hospice Walsall 
			 Hope House Children's Respite Hospice Oswestry 
			 The Donna Louise Trust Stoke on Trent 
			   
			 East Midlands  
			 The Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice Rainbow Children's Hospice Leicester Loughborough 
			   
			 North West  
			 Zoe's Place (baby hospice) Liverpool 
			 Claire House Children's Hospice Bebington, Wirral 
			 Derian House Children's Hospice Chorley 
			 Life Health Centre Liverpool 
			 TrinityThe Hospice In The Fylde Bispham 
			 Francis House Manchester 
			 Eden Valley Hospice Carlisle 
			   
			 North East  
			 Butterwick Hospice Children's Unit Stockton on Tees 
			 Butterwick Hospice Stockton Stockton on Tees 
			 St. Oswald's Children's Hospice Newcastle upon Tyne 
			 St. Oswald's Hospice Newcastle upon Tyne 
			 Zoe's Place Normanby, Middlesbrough 
			   
			 Yorkshire and The Humber  
			 Martin House Wetherby 
			 St. Andrew's Children's Hospice Grimsby 
			 St. Andrew's Hospice Grimsby 
			 St. Hugh's Hospital Grimsby

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) the Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible spent on advertising in 200405, broken down by media type.

Jane Kennedy: Media spend on advertising for the Department for 200405 was 32.7 million. The breakdown is shown in the following table.
	
		 million
		
			 Media type Amount 
		
		
			 Press 6.8 
			 Regional press 2.1 
			 Television 17.8 
			 Radio 3.5 
			 Outdoor posters 2.3 
			 Online 0.2 
		
	
	We have no central record of advertising spend by non-departmental bodies, and could not obtain these without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Advice

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department's advice Clostridium Difficile: Infection Prevention and Management was last reviewed; and what plans she has to audit compliance with it.

Jane Kennedy: Clostridium Difficile: Infection Prevention and Management has not been formally reviewed, but we will be discussing options for this with the Health Protection Agency, in light of the lessons we have learned since its publication and any recommendations that may arise from the Healthcare Commission inquiry into the recent Clostridium Difficile outbreak. The guidance is still relevant in its current form. There are no plans for an audit for compliance with this guidance.

Diagnostic and Treatment Centres

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list diagnostic and treatment centres, broken down by (a) location and (b) specialism.

Liam Byrne: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Diversity Training

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) medical students and (b) student nurses receive diversity training; and what research the Government have commissioned on the effects of diversity training for (i) medical students and (ii) student nurses.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not set the curriculums for health professional training. This is a matter for the statutory and professional bodies. However, we do share a commitment with them that all health professionals are trained to acquire, the skills and knowledge to deliver a high quality health service to the diverse range of individuals, cultures and groups with whom they have contact.

East Sussex Hospitals Trust

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates the Department's Recovery and Support Unit visited East Sussex Hospitals Trust; whether it has reported to Ministers; and what actions she plans to take as a result of their intervention.

Caroline Flint: The Department's recovery and support unit (RSU) has not visited the East Sussex Hospitals National Health Service Trust.
	In line with Shifting the Balance of Power, the RSU addresses all performance issues, including performance at the East Sussex Trust, through the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority (SHA). It is not standard practice for the RSU to intervene directly with trusts.
	The RSU continues to discuss specific performance issues relating to East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust with the SHA.

Ethical Recruitment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of recruiting agencies used by the NHS were signed up to the Department's Code of Practice on ethical recruitment in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	Compliance with the code is recorded on the NHS Employers' website at: www.nhsemployers.org/doc/recruitment_code_of_practice.pdf.
	115 recruitment agencies were invited to sign up to the code via the website at the end of 2002. By February 2003, 64 agencies had replied with confirmation that they complied with the provisions of the code. By August 2004, the number had increased to 164.
	A revised code was published in December 2004, which tightened arrangements for locum recruitment and the private sector.
	As at June 2005, the number of agencies currently named on the Code of Practice website is 237.

Ethical Recruitment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that the NHS abides by its Code of Practice on ethical recruitment.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	A list of commercial recruitment agencies compliant with the Code of Practice is kept on the NHS Employers' website at www.nhsemployers.org/workforce/list_of_agencies.asp
	NHS Employers monitors the use of agencies by the national health service and checks that the agency used is on the website list.
	NHS Employers checks that agencies are compliant with the code and makes inquiries if there is evidence an NHS employer or an agency is in breach of the code.

Ethical Recruitment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that the NHS does not recruit from the private sector health care workers who have migrated to the UK from countries which would be excluded under her Department's Code of Practice on ethical recruitment had they been recruited directly into the NHS.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	A person given leave to remain in the United Kingdom enjoys the same protection from racial discrimination and access to equal opportunities as other UK nationals when seeking employment.

Ethical Recruitment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are in place to ensure that the NHS does not contract out services to private sector organisations which have not signed up to the Department's Code of Practice on ethical recruitment.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The Code of Practice covers the recruitment and employment of health care professionals. Compliance with the Code of Practice is a contractual obligation for all independent sector providers and recruitment agencies working with the national health service.

General Practitioner Cover

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was allocated by her Department in each primary care trust in England for out-of-hours general practitioner services in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information showing the amount of money allocated by the Department to each primary care trust in England for out-of-hours general practitioner services in 200304, 200405 and 200506 has been placed in the Library.

Healthcare-associated Infections

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will introduce legislation to combat healthcare-associated infection; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I will be publishing tomorrow a consultation document that sets out detailed proposals for tackling health care associated infections, as outlined in the Gracious Speech. Copies will be available in the Library, and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/LiveConsultations/fs/en.

Hospital Admissions (Accidents)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of hospital admission for serious accidental injury has been per 100,000 population in each year since 1995.

Caroline Flint: The available trend data for rate of hospital admission for serious accidental injury are shown in the table.
	
		Age standardized hospital admission rate for serious accidental injury per 100,000 population
		
			 Financial year Number of persons, all ages, England 
		
		
			 199596 315.9 
			 199697 319.3 
			 199798 314.3 
			 199899 319.1 
			 19992000 324.9 
			 200001 313.4 
			 200102 312.7 
			 200203 327.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Serious accidental injury is defined as an accidental injury resulting in a hospital in-patient stay exceeding three days. The data are estimates derived from information held in the hospital episode statistics system, which contains details of patients admitted to and treated in national health service hospitals in England.
	2. Rates are directly age-standardised rates per 100,000 population, standardised against the European standard population.

Influenza Pandemic

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans the Government has for emergency assistance to the national infrastructure in the event of an influenza pandemic;
	(2)  whether the Health Protection Agency has carried out an assessment of the economic impact of an influenza pandemic;
	(3)  what plans the Health Protection Agency has for mortuary facilities in the event of an influenza pandemic; and whether the plans have been rehearsed.

Caroline Flint: The Department, as lead Department, is working with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) and with other Departments on cross-Government preparations for an influenza pandemic. One of the issues being covered in this work is the possible economic impact of a influenza pandemic on the United Kingdom as a whole, taking into account the uncertainty about the nature and scale of a pandemic and its impact. This work is being informed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) which supports the Department through the provision of expert advice and some operational capacity.
	Good business continuity planning will reduce the impact of an influenza pandemic and Government Departments are working closely with key national industries to ensure they are as prepared as possible. The Home Office is assessing whether existing public and national health service mortuaries can cope with excess deaths during an influenza pandemicin order to identify what extraordinary arrangements might be required to enhance current arrangements, including the provision of additional temporary facilities for the storage of bodies ahead of funerals taking place.

Influenza Pandemic

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Health Protection Agency has for the provision of hospital beds in the event of an influenza pandemic.

Caroline Flint: The provision of hospital beds in the event of an influenza pandemic is the responsibility of local national health service trusts, and is not a matter for the Health Protection Agency. The NHS is experienced in managing demand for hospitals beds, and local trusts will have plans in place to deal with increased demand.
	In order to assist the NHS in planning for an influenza pandemic, the Department has published the United Kingdom influenza pandemic contingency plan and also the operational guidance for NHS planners. Both these documents make clear that NHS organisations will need to prepare for significant demand for services, and the UK plan gives guidance on the level of demand that the NHS might expect.

London SHAs (Staff)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are directly employed as (a) medical and dental staff and (b) non-medical staff in each London strategic health authority.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: total non-medical staff employed by specified organisations by main staff group as at 30 September 2004 -- Headcount
		
			  London SHAs 
			  North Central North East North West South East South West 
		
		
			 All staff 161 191 131 148 106 
			 Medical and dental staff 8 11 5 6 4 
			 All non-medical staff 153 180 126 142 102 
			 of which:  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting 5 11 0 2 0 
			 Central functions 44 125 45 57 9 
			 Managers and senior managers 104 44 81 83 93 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2004

Lung Disease

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Easington primary care trust area suffer from (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) pneumoconiosis.

Liam Byrne: Data on the incidence of chronic bronchitis and emphysemia and pneumoconiosis are not available centrally.
	These conditions are all very closely related and represent one of the most important conditions in the United Kingdom and one of the commonest reasons for admission to hospital. The principle cause is smoking. The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease already has a reduction in cigarette smoking as one of its major targets. We have also banned tobacco advertising and made smoking reduction aids available on national health service prescription. Less important contributory factors are atmospheric pollution and recurrent chest infections.
	Strategic health authorities and primary care trusts have all received the NSF for long-term conditions. While the NSF is principally concerned with improving health and social care services for people with a long-term neurological condition, it will address some of the generic issues that are important to people living with a disability that is not necessarily neurological in origin. The principles in the NSF apply equally to improving quality of life and promoting independent living for anyone living with a long-term condition.

Lutein/Zeaxanthin

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to enable the drugs (a) Lutein and (b) Zeaxanthin to be made available on prescription; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: We have no plans to make Lutein and Zeaxanthin available on prescription on the national health service.

NHS Direct

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been made by members of the public regarding the service they received from NHS Direct; and how many were upheld.

Liam Byrne: I understand from the chair of NHS Direct that during the year April 2004 to March 2005 NHS Direct answered 6,584,000 calls. From these calls, NHS Direct received 1,469 complaints. Of these complaints, 1,128 were able to be resolved locally and 341 required further escalation.
	Following investigation, 153 of the complaints were upheld, approximately 0.002 per cent., of the total calls answered.

NHS Direct

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons she is proposing to change the status of NHS Direct.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The proposed change in the status of NHS Direct is a natural progression of its development to provide and develop responsive health information and advice to the public. It is part of the wider review of arm's length bodies (ALBs) by the Department, which was published in July 2004 by the then Secretary of State for Health. The review set out an overall strategy to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the ALB sector, resulting in a reduction in their number. In the ALB review, a commitment was made to work with NHS Direct to change its governance arrangements.

NHS Professionals

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of NHS trusts implemented NHS professionals by the end of April;
	(2)  what NHS professionals' budget (a) was in 200405 and (b) is in 200506.

Liam Byrne: In April 2005, NHS professionals was providing services to 43 per cent. (102) of the 236 national health service trusts in England.
	NHS professionals' central budget allocation from the Department was 30.5 million in 200405 and is 23 million in 200506.

NHS Trust Deficits

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Bradford Acute Trust was in deficit before it became a Foundation Trust.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The Bradford Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust moved to Foundation Trust status on 1 April 2004. The retained surplus or deficit of the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for the year 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 was zero, as reported by the audited summarisation schedules for the trust.

NHS Trusts (Financial Consultants)

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much each NHS trust spent on external financial consultants during the financial period (a) 200102, (b) 200203, (c) 200304 and (d) 200405.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Nurses

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing vacancies there were on 31 May, broken down by primary care trust; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available centrally for 31 May 2005.

Scanning Services

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a scan in County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority area was in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	This data are not collected centrally.

Scanning Services

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many residents of Sacriston have had scans carried out by Alliance Medical;
	(2)  how many residents of Great Lumley have had scans carried out by Alliance Medical.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	The information requested is not centrally available.

Scanning Services

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of waiting times for routine MRI scans in (a) Kingston and Surbiton, (b) South West London, (c) London and (d) England.

Liam Byrne: No estimate has been made, as the Department has not previously collected data on diagnostic waits.

Sexual Health

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in the Easington Primary Care Trust area in the last three years;
	(2)  how many cases of sexually transmitted diseases have been diagnosed in the Easington Primary Care Trust area in each of the last three years, broken down by disease.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally. However, the information can be obtained from the Health Protection Agency at genito urinary medicine (GUM) clinic level. There is no GUM clinic in the Easington Primary Care Trust area.

Sickness Absence

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of sickness absence for (a) medical staff, (b) non-medical clinical staff and (c) all other staff has been in each (i) primary care trust and (ii) strategic health authority in London in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Sickness absence rates are not collected for different groups of staff. However, the table shows a single sickness absence figure for each London national health service organisation between 1999 and 2004.
	
		Sickness and absence rates for London organisations: 19992004
		
			  Organisation 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham Primary Care Trust (PCT)7.5 4.2 3.2 
			 5HX Ealing PCT3.6 3.4 3.9 
			 SHY Hounslow PCT8.8 4.3 3.2 
			 5K5 Brent PCT .   2.6 5.0 4.5 
			 5K6 Harrow PCT3.8 4.7 5.4 
			 5K7 Camden PCT4.9 5.3 4.7 
			 5K8 Islington PCT3.9 3.9 4.0 
			 5K9 Croydon PCT5.8 5.1 4.0 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea PCT4.8 4.4 4.5 
			 5LC Westminster PCT2.3 4.4 3.7 
			 5LD Lambeth PCT4.1 7.6 4.3 
			 5LE Southwark PCT5.3 5.5 3.5 
			 5LF Lewisham PCT4.4 6.8 3.4 
			 5LG Wandsworth PCT3.9 4.1 4.4 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham PCT4.2 3.4 3.7 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton PCT3.6 5.1 5.1 
			 SNA Redbridge PCT 6.4 6.0 
			 5NC Waltham Forest PCT 4.8 5.9 
			 Q04 North West London Strategic Health Authority (SHA)1.1 1.5 2.2 
			 Q05 North Central London SHA 1.7 1.5 
			 Q06 North East London SHA2.2 1.8 2.1 
			 Q07 South East London SHA0.1 0.6 1.1 
			 Q08 South West London SHA3.2 1.0 2.0 
			 RAL Royal Free NHS Trust  4.5 3.5 4.5 3.5 3.9 
			 RAN Royal National Orthopaedic NHS Trust 5.1 3.9 2.9 4.6 4.7 4.0 
			 RAP North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust 4.0 5.9  5.3 6.5 5.4 
			 RAS Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust 4.6 4.1 4.1 4.5 5.4 5.2 
			 RAT North East London Mental Health NHS Trust   4.1 4.9 4.6 4.0 
			 RAX Kingston Hospital NHS Trust 5.6 3.2  4.8 4.0 3.7 
			 RC3 Ealing Hospital NHS Trust 3.0 4.4 4.2 4.0 3.9 3.7 
			 RF4 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust   3.8 3.9 4.1 4.4 
			 RFW West Middlesex University NHS Trust 3.7 4.2  4.1 4.0 3.4 
			 RG2 Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust 3.6   4.5 4.0 3.9 
			 RG3 Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 5.2 5.4  6.4 5.3 4.3 
			 RGC Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust4.8 2.7 3.5 
			 RGZ Queen Mary's, Sidcup NHS Trust 4.5 4.6 4.8 5.0 4.9 4.6 
			 RJ1 Guys and St. Thomas's NHS Trust  3.6 3.6 3.4 3.7 3.6 
			 RJ2 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust 3.8 3.3 4.5 5.2 5.2 5.1 
			 RJ5 St. Mary's Hospital NHS Trust  3.9   2.3 4.1 
			 RJ6 Mayday Health Care NHS Trust 4.5   4.4 4.0 4.0 
			 RJ7 St. George's Group NHS Trust 4.8 3.4 4.0 3.6 4.2 4.2 
			 RJZ King's Healthcare NHS Trust 4.7 4.6 4.2 3.9 3.9 3.7 
			 RKE Whittington Hospital NHS Trust  5.5 3.8 3.8 4.8 6.0 
			 RKL West London Mental Health NHS Trust   6.8 5.7 6.1 5.7 
			 RNH Newham Healthcare NHS Trust 4.2 5.0 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.6 
			 RNJ Royal Hospital of St. Bartholomew, The Royal London Hospital and London Chest Hospital NHS Trust  3.5 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.3 
			 RNK Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust  2.9 1.5 2.5 1.9 1.9 
			 RP4 Great Ormond Street Hospital For Sick Children NHS Trust  3.6 3.5 3.9 3.2 3.3 
			 RP6 Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust  3.1 4.1 4.5 5.4 3.6 
			 RPG Oxleas NHS Trust 4.7 5.4 5.8 6.1 5.2 5.2 
			 RPY Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust 2.5  4.4 4.7 3.9 4.3 
			 RQM Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust 3.7 2.0 3.7 3.5 3.7 3.8 
			 RQN Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust  3.7 3.9 4.0 3.7 3.6 
			 RQX Homerton Hospital NHS Trust 4.0 4.9 4.3 4.8 4.1 4.3 
			 RQY South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust 7.1 4.7 5.7 3.9 4.4 4.8 
			 RRP Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust   4.8 3.2 4.1 4.2 
			 RRU London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 7.8  7.5 6.7 6.6 6.4 
			 RRV University College London Hospitals NHS Trust  3.9 4.4 3.7 3.9 3.3 
			 RT3 Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust   5.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 
			 RV3 Brent, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Mental Health NHS Trust 4.6 5.2  4.5 4.3 4.0 
			 RV5 South London and Maudsley NHS Trust  2.9 3.8 5.1 6.2 5.0 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 3.1 2.4 3.4 3.4 3.7 3.4 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 3.2 3.7  3.9 3.2 3.1 
			 RVR Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust 3.5 2.7 3.5 5.5 4.5 3.6 
			 RWK East London and the City Mental Health NHS Trust  6.5 4.8 5.0 4.6 5.0 
			 TAF Camden and Islington Mental Health and Social Care Trust4.9 5.1 4.8 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 3.7 3.8 
			 5A4 Havering PCT   5.5 5.2 5.3 6.0 
			 5A5 Kingston PCT4.0 4.1 4.2 
			 5A7 Bromley PCT   5.8 5.3 5.6 5.3 
			 5A8 Greenwich PCT4.2 4.1 3.7 
			 5A9 Barnet PCT 4.7 4.3 
			 5AT Hillingdon PCT   3.5 7.1 4.5 5.1 
			 5C1 Enfield PCT   3.4 3.0 3.5 3.7 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham PCT   3.0 3.5 2.6 4.7 
			 5C3 City and Hackney PCT   4.9 4.5 4.9 5.6 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets PCT   3.4 6.6 6.2 5.7 
			 5C5 Newham PCT4.3 4.2 4.4 
			 5C9 Haringey PCT   3.9 2.4 3.6 3.9 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Sickness absence rate is defined as the amount of time lost through absences as a percentage of staff time available. This does not cover maternity leave, carers' leave or any periods of absence agreed under family friendly/flexible working policies.
	2. General practitioners and their staff are not included in the above figures.
	3. values indicate that either no response was made by the organisation or the organisation did not yet exist in that year.
	Source:
	Department of Health sickness absence surveys 19992003.
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre sickness absence survey 2004.

Social Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how pilot areas will be chosen to test the proposals for individual budgets for social care.

Liam Byrne: The programme of individual budget pilots is still in the early stages of development. We are working closely with older people, disabled people, other users and stakeholders to establish an appropriate mechanism to test the individual budget model and select local authority areas for piloting. We anticipate that pilot areas will cover a range of geographical locations and local authority types. Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People also recommended working with organisations that are already making progress in this area.

South West London and St. George's Mental Health Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many staff have been killed by residents of in-patient wards in South West London and St. George's Mental Health Trust in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to ensure the safety of staff working in psychiatric hospitals in South West London and St. George's Mental Health Trust;
	(3)  which categories of staff within the South West London and St. George's Mental Health Trust have access to risk assessments of mental health in-patients.

Jane Kennedy: The South West London Strategic Health Authority has reported that one member of staff was killed by an in-patient of the trust in 2003. The trust has a number of measures in place to protect its staff, which include:
	Reports of all incidents of violence to staff to the national health service security management service and active pursuit of prosecution. It has secured five convictions to date.
	Staff are supported by a police liaison officer, an ex-policeman, who ensures prompt police response to trust concerns.
	A zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol, as these are elements that contribute to violence and aggression.
	Regular drug dog searches are conducted on all trust sites, in conjunction with Wandsworth Prison.
	Risk assessments are conducted on all patients.
	All staff have risk assessment training.
	All working areas have completed lone working assessments and have action plans in place to reduce the risk of working alone, both on trust sites and in the community.
	There is a programme of new build to ensure that the buildings are fit for purpose and are safe for both patients and staff.
	A leadership and development programme is under way for all ward managers, which includes improving the therapeutic environment of the wards; a poor therapeutic environment contributes to violence.
	The trust took part in the Healthcare Commission national audit of violence and is implementing learning points from this work.
	Robust inquiries are conducted into all serious incidents. Learning points are identified and where necessary support is given to particular wards where there may be patients with challenging behaviour.
	Risk assessments are shared with members of the multidisciplinary team who directly care for the patient. They may also be shared on a need-to-know basis with other agencies, such as social care, the police and other trusts, following NHS information governance principles. In certain circumstances, risk assessments will also be shared with the patient's carers.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abandoned Vehicles

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have resulted from proceedings against the individuals believed to have abandoned vehicles in each of the last five years, broken down by police authority area in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: It is not possible, from the information held on the Home Office court proceedings database, to identify prosecutions for abandoning vehicles separately from other types of unauthorised dumping under the Refuse Disposal (Amenity) Act 1978.

Domestic Violence

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many calls have been received by the National Domestic Violence Helpline since its introduction; and what the cost of its operation has been.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	Statistics provided to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by Refuge and Women's Aid show that between its launch on 15 December 2003 and 31 May 2005, there have been 336,835 calls to the National Domestic Violence Helpline (0808 2000 247).
	The Helpline is run in partnership between Refuge and Women's Aid. Figures on the cost of its operation are not centrally held.

Mobile Phones

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to encourage compliance with the ban on the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving a motor vehicle on the public highway.

Paul Goggins: Enforcement of this new offence is an operational matter for chief officers of police. The likelihood of police detection is increased by the introduction of intercept teams linked to the operation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems, for which we announced funding of 15 million in November last year. A clause in the Road Safety Bill, currently before Parliament, aims to increase penalties by making the offence subject to endorsement of three penalty points and a 60 fixed penalty.

Passports

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last 12 months the average time a passport application took to be processed by the UK Passport Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The average processing times provided in the table relate to the time taken to issue single, straightforward, properly completed applications by the UK Passport Service for the last 12 months.
	
		
			 Month Average processing time 
		
		
			 June 5.5 
			 July 5.5 
			 August 6.0 
			 September 5.0 
			 October 4.0 
			 November 3.0 
			 December 3.5 
			 January 3.5 
			 February 4.5 
			 March 4.5 
			 April 4.5 
			 May 5.0

Racial and Religious Hatred Bill

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely effects on freedom of speech of the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill.

Paul Goggins: The only limitation placed on free speech by the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill is the prevention of words or material that stir up racial or religious hatred. The Government believe this is a proportionate measure, a view shared by the Joint Committee on Human Rights who, in their report on the proposed measures published in March 2005, accepted the existence of a serious, albeit limited, problem of incitement to hatred on religious grounds. The report considered that the measures proposed in the Bill were unlikely to give rise to any violation of the right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
	The Government are determined to preserve the right to engage in free and vigorous debate about religion, including the right to criticise religious beliefs and practices. This is an entirely different matter from inciting hatred of people because they belong to a particular religious group.

Sexual Offences Act

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data his Department is collecting to evaluate the effectiveness of sections 15 and 123 to 129 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003; and when the first full year of data will be available.

Paul Goggins: In order to evaluate the effectiveness of sections 15 and 123 to 129 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, we are collecting statistical data relating to recorded crime, prosecutions and convictions, as well as evidence from statutory and non-statutory bodies who work within the field of sexual offending.
	The recorded crime data relating to section 15 will be available from 21 July 2005, covering the period from 1 May 2004 until 31 March 2005. Information on the number of risk of sexual harm orders (sections 123 to 129) will be collected from the courts annually and the figures for 2004 will be available in the autumn of 2005.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Government Bills (Explanatory Notes)

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the occasions, in each of the last three sessions, when Explanatory Notes to Government Bills have not been made available (a) on the same day that a Bill is published and (b) within three sitting days.

Nigel Griffiths: This information is not recorded and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Guidance to Departments emphasises that every effort should be made to publish Explanatory Notes at the same time as the Bill.

Parliamentary Education (Schools)

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House what steps he is taking to promote knowledge of, and interest in, both Houses of Parliament through schools.

Nigel Griffiths: My right hon. Friend is keen to work with Members to promote a better understanding of Parliament through schools. Following the report of the Select Committee on the Modernisation of the House on Connecting Parliament with the Public last year, the House of Commons Commission agreed to a significant expansion of the services of the Parliamentary Education Unit. Two Communications and Outreach Officers have now been appointed in order to further promote the work of Parliament in schools and through local education authorities. Two additional Visits Officers will be recruited shortly to increase the range and number of visits programmes available to schools wanting to visit Parliament.

Sitting Hours

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the occasions when the House has sat later than 2.00 am in each session since 1976.

Nigel Griffiths: I have placed the information requested in the Library of the House.

Sitting Hours

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House if he will list the occasions when a Standing Committee has sat later than 2.30 am in each session since 1976.

Nigel Griffiths: The information requested is a matter of public record, available in Standing Committee Hansard, but could be collated only at disproportionate cost.

SCOTLAND

Proceeds of Crime Act

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been seized in Midlothian as a consequence of prosecutions under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

David Cairns: My hon. Friend may be aware that this is a devolved matter and the information requested is not broken down by constituency or local authority area. However, since the commencement of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in March 2003, the Financial Crime Unit of the Crown Office has successfully obtained confiscation orders for over 3,300,000 worth of assets gained from criminal activity for the whole of Scotland to date. In addition, restraint orders have been granted for over 47,224,000 worth of assets in the period to March 2005.

Work-related Stress

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department in each of the last three years; how much compensation was paid to employees in each year; how many work days were lost due to work-related stress in each year; at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress; at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

David Cairns: The staff in the Scotland Office are on loan from either the Scottish Executive or the Department for Constitutional Affairs but neither Department maintains central records of absences due to work-related stress. The Scotland Office has not paid any compensation for work-related stress.
	Both Departments have a range of stress-related initiatives that staff in the Scotland Office can access ranging from employee assistance programme which offer a free, confidential 24-hour support hotline for all staff, providing the opportunity to discuss any issues (including work-related stress) with a trained counsellor to training for staff in helping with stress to Welfare Services. These initiatives are available to all staff in these Departments and it is not possible to attribute the costs involved to the Scotland Office.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Advantage West Midlands

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by Advantage West Midlands in each relevant (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area since 1997.

Alun Michael: When the Agency was formed in 1999, the sponsoring departments required expenditure to be monitored on a programme budget basis, and there was no geographical analysis. This changed in 200203 as a result of changes in the way the Government requires Regional Developed Agencies to report on their spending. After 200203 a record was kept on the basis of Regeneration Zones but was not disaggregated to local authority or parliamentary constituency levels.
	Advantage West Midlands has recently introduced a new reporting mechanism that will allow projects to be defined by local authority and parliamentary constituency. This information will cover current and future expenditure and will not provide a similar analysis of past projects.

Directorate Staff

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many members of each Directorate have taken early retirement since October 2003; and for what reasons.

Alan Johnson: The following table shows the number of staff in each Directorate who have taken voluntary early severance and voluntary early retirement since October 2003.
	Their reasons for doing so are not recorded.
	
		
			 Directorate Voluntary early severance Voluntary early retirement 
		
		
			 Business Relations 51 84 
			 Business Support 3 0 
			 Consumer and Competition Policy Directorate 7 19 
			 Corporate Law and Governance 4 16 
			 Energy Industries and Technology Unit 8 23 
			 Energy Markets Unit 3 9 
			 Employment Relations 8 15 
			 Energy Resources and Development Unit 4 8 
			 Energy Strategy Unit 2 2 
			 Europe and World Trade 7 10 
			 Finance and Resource Management 5 13 
			 Human Resources and Change Management 3 15 
			 Industry Economics and Statistics 2 3 
			 Innovation Group 14 23 
			 Information and Workplace Services 8 22 
			 Legal 16 12 
			 Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Team 8 13 
			 Office of Manpower Economics 2 5 
			 Office of Science and Technology 6 8 
			 Project Work Team 6 6 
			 Regions 3 9 
			 Small Business Service 13 23 
			 Strategy Communications Unit 7 6 
			 Shareholder Executive 2 3 
			 UK Trade and Investment 35 28 
			 Women and Equality Unit 5 3 
			 Export Control and Non-Proliferation 4 9 
			 Other small directorates(8) 2 9 
		
	
	(8) This represents British National Space Centre, Internal Audit, Low Pay Commission and the Strategic Policy Analysis Unit where the numbers are small and there is a risk staff could be identified.

Internal Market Services Directive

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of regulations which might be considered a barrier to trade under the terms of the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market;
	(2)  what his definition of remote provision of services is in relation to the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market;
	(3)  what his definition of (a) Services of General Economic Interest and (b) Services of General interest is with reference to the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market;
	(4)  what the process will be by which national governments justify regulation in the public interest under the terms of the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market;
	(5)  how the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market differentiates between services in the public and private sectors;
	(6)  pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 437W, on EU Directives, what his definition of temporary is in relation to the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market;
	(7)  which service sectors would be excluded from the scope of the EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market under the provisions of paragraphs 15 and 16 of the Directive.

Ian Pearson: The draft EU Directive on Services in the Internal Market is currently under negotiation in both the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. The Government see this dossier as a priority and wishes to progress negotiations during their Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
	Barriers to trade
	Since the publication of the Commission's proposal in 2004, the Government have been identifying areas of regulation to which the Directive would apply and those which might be considered to constitute a barrier to trade of services. Although this work is ongoing its current status is reflected in the partial Regulatory Impact Assessment published on the DTI's website www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics2/pdf2/servicesria/pdf
	Definition of remote provision of services
	The Directive does not define remote provision of a service, however, the Treaty itself does make clear the freedom to provide services applies both to a situation where a provider physically moves to another member state and where he remains in a member state and provides his service cross-border. Remote provision of a service then is where the provider remains in one member state while providing his service to a recipient in another member state; it would include services provided over the internet or telephone and also mail order services.
	Definition of Services of General Economic Interest and Services of General Interest. The term Services of General Interest is not found in the Treaty (which only refers to services of general economic interest), but it is often used to mean both economic services and non-economic services in which there is a public service element. While the term Service of General Economic Interest is referred to in the EC Treaty it is not defined. The Services Directive only covers economic services where there is economic consideration provided by or on behalf of the recipient.
	Process for justifying regulation in the public interest
	The Directive obliges member states to report on their authorisation schemes. They will have to justify their schemes as being non-discriminatory, based on a strong public interest reason, and proportionate. The reports will go to the Commission and to other member states. There will be a peer review of member states' regulations. Following that the Commission will prepare a summary report.
	What is a strong public interest reason? The Directive refers to
	overriding reasons relating to the public interest
	these are strong reasons recognised by the European Court of Justice, and its definition has been, and may continue to be, developed by the ECJ. The protection of workers and protection of consumers are two reasons that have been recognised by the ECJ as constituting overriding reasons relating to the public interest.
	Public and private sector services
	Only services which are economic in nature are covered by the Services Directive. Economic services in this sense can be provided by either the private or public sectors. Many public sector services are not economic in nature, for example, the ECJ held there was no economic consideration in relation to state education which is therefore not economic in nature. The Directive does not apply the country of origin principle to certain services which in some countries will be provided by the public sector, namely, gas, electricity, post and water services.
	Definition of temporary
	The Directive does not have a definition of temporary, which is also the case for a number of other European Directives; instead it uses the case-law of the European Court of Justice to define establishment as
	the actual pursuit of an economic activity, as referred to in Article 43 of the Treaty, through a fixed establishment of the provider for an indefinite period.
	Whether a provider is temporary or not defends on looking at the circumstances of each case. The ECJ has said that the criteria to be applied to this assessment are not limited to the duration of the provision of services, but should also include its regularity, periodical nature and continuity.
	Service sectors excluded from the Directive
	The service sectors that are excluded from the scope of the Directive are listed in Article 2. The country of origin principle has derogations listed in Article 17 for specific service sectors, namely, postal services and the distribution of electricity, gas and water.

TRANSPORT

A102

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the speed limit on the A102 between the A11 and the A13 has been reduced from 50 mph to 40 mph.

Stephen Ladyman: This length of road is now classified as the A12 and forms part of the Greater London Authority Road Networknow known as the Transport for London Road Networkand is the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London. This includes the setting of speed limits. Further information concerning the speed limits on the road may be obtained from:
	Keith Ollier
	Director of Street Management
	Transport for London
	Windsor House
	4250 Victoria Street
	London SW1H 0TL

A11/A13

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) minor and (b) serious accidents occurred on the A102 between the A11 and the A13 in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is in the table.
	
		Minor and serious accidents on the A102(9) between theA11 and the A13
		
			  Serious accidents Slight accidents 
		
		
			 1995 6 23 
			 1996 3 16 
			 1997 4 17 
			 1998 4 15 
			 1999 0 26 
			 2000 6 24 
			 2001 4 35 
			 2002 3 21 
			 2003 3 30 
			 2004 1 18 
		
	
	(9) The section of the A102 between the A11 and A13 was renamed as the A12 in 2000.

A21 Upgrade

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received regarding funding for the proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge.

Stephen Ladyman: No representations have been received regarding funding for the proposed A21 upgrade between Flimwell and Robertsbridge.

A21 Upgrade

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received opposing the proposed A21 upgrade; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Following the 200203 public consultation for the sections of the A21 from Tonbridge to Pembury, Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst and Flimwell to Robertsbridge, 221 representations were received opposing the proposed improvements and 1,028 representations were received supporting the improvements. The improvements have been classified as having regional importance and will be progressed subject to regional priorities.

A38

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1412W on the A38, how many households at (a) each location referred to and (b) the M1 in the Narborough/Enderby area are affected by noise; and at what decibel count.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of properties/noise level dB 
			 Road 68 to 72 72 to 75 Greater than 75 
		
		
			 A38 Shobnall Road 520 294 71 
			 A38 Wyggeston Street 88 55 6 
			 M6 Western Downs 277 105 61 
			 A38 Branston and Ashmole Branston BNear A38 Junction 15 9 2 
			 A38 Branston and Ashmole Branston A Lichfield Road 0 0 19 
		
	
	For the Enderby/Narborough area:
	
		
			  Number of properties/noise level dB 
			 Locality/street name 68 to 72 72 to 75 Greater than 75 
		
		
			 Enderby
			 Blaby Road 1 1 0 
			 Queens Drive 5 6 0 
			 Packhorse Drive 25 1 0 
			 Cumberwell Drive 0 2 22 
			 Leicester Road 9 10 4 
			 Total 40 20 26 
			 
			 Narborough
			 Roy Close 12 7 14 
			 Leicester Road 5 3 1 
			 Alexandra Street 8 11 1 
			 Princess Street 4 1 0 
			 Carlton Avenue 1 0 0 
			 Total 30 22 16

A40

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents occurred in each year between 1984 and 2004 on the A40 road between (a) Carmarthen and St. Clears and (b) St. Clears and Haverfordwest.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Number of fatal accidents on the A40: 1984 to 2004
		
			  Section between Carmarthen and St. Clears Section between St. Clears and Haverfordwest 
		
		
			 1984 3 0 
			 1985 0 0 
			 1986 1 4 
			 1987 2 2 
			 1988 0 1 
			 1989 1 0 
			 1990 0 1 
			 1991 2 1 
			 1992 1 3 
			 1993 2 1 
			 1994 1 0 
			 1995 2 0 
			 1996 0 2 
			 1997 1 1 
			 1998 1 3 
			 1999 2 2 
			 2000 0 0 
			 2001 0 3 
			 2002 0 1 
			 2003 1 2 
			 2004 0 0

Advertising Hoardings

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for road safety of the unregulated use of advertising hoardings in the immediate proximity of motorways and other major trunk routes.

Stephen Ladyman: Although there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that advertising hoardings in the immediate proximity of motorways, and other major trunk routes, can have a detrimental effect on road safety, the results of studies carried out to date have been inconclusive.

Blue Badges

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many disabled person's Blue Badges were issued in each local authority in each of the last two years;
	(2)  how many people were refused a disabled person's Blue Badge in the last five years.

Karen Buck: I will place information on the numbers of badges issued by local authorities in England for the year up to 31 March 2003 and the year up to 31 March 2004 in the House Library.
	The Department for Transport does not keep information on the numbers of badges that are refused. Local authorities are not legally required to provide this information to the Department.

Blue Badges

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the current criteria are to receive a disabled person's Blue Badge.

Karen Buck: The information is as follows.
	To qualify for a blue badge the applicant must:
	receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the disability living allowance; or
	receive a war pensioners' mobility supplement; or
	use a motor vehicle supplied for disabled people by a Government Health Department; or
	be registered blind; or
	have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob; or
	have a permanent and substantial disability which means they are unable to walk or have very considerable difficulty in walking.

Civil Aviation (Missile Defence)

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of anti-missile technologies in the UK civil aviation industry.

Karen Buck: There are a number of technologies capable of defeating shoulder-fired missiles. The Government are keeping under consideration whether such systems could be realistically applied to civil aviation.

Cyclists

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to raise awareness amongst cyclists of the need to stop at red traffic lights.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highway Code and road traffic law apply to cyclists as much as to anyone else. It is common knowledge among road users that there is a requirement to stop at red traffic lights. The Department has run frequent publicity campaigns educating cyclists to cycle safely and one third of children receive some form of cycle training, which teaches the rules of the road.
	It is an offence under section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to fail to comply with a traffic sign and the maximum fine is 1,000. The police can also prosecute cyclists who ride carelessly or dangerously and these offences carry maximum fines of 1,000 and 2,500 respectively. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police.
	We disapprove strongly of the behaviour of those cyclists who ride through red lights. It is a danger to others, who might be vulnerable pedestrians such as the elderly or children, and it brings cycling into disrepute with other road users.

Cyclists

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists were (a) injured and (b) killed in road traffic accidents in (i) the Metropolitan Police area of London, (ii) Southend, (iii) Essex and (iv) England and Wales in 200405; and how many were killed in each of the preceding nine years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is as follows.
	
		Number of cyclists killed and injured
		
			 Year Killed Injured Total 
		
		
			 Metropolitan Police 
			 1995 18 4,672 4,690 
			 1996 19 4,478 4,497 
			 1997 12 4,543 4,555 
			 1998 13 4,437 4,450 
			 1999 12 4,253 4,265 
			 2000 15 3,458 3,473 
			 2001 21 3,225 3,246 
			 2002 18 2,971 2,989 
			 2003 18 2,970 2,988 
			 2004 6 2,874 2,880 
		
	
	Note:
	Excludes the City of London
	
		Number of cyclists killed and injured
		
			 Year Killed Injured Total 
		
		
			 Southend 
			 1995 1 120 121 
			 1996 0 114 114 
			 1997 0 114 114 
			 1998 0 95 95 
			 1999 1 93 94 
			 2000 0 101 101 
			 2001 0 82 82 
			 2002 1 71 72 
			 2003 0 74 74 
			 2004 0 60 60 
		
	
	
		Number of cyclists killed and injured
		
			 Year Killed Injured Total 
		
		
			 Thurrock 
			 1995 1 45 46 
			 1996 1 49 50 
			 1997 1 64 65 
			 1998 1 51 52 
			 1999 0 43 43 
			 2000 0 48 48 
			 2001 1 56 57 
			 2002 1 35 36 
			 2003 0 30 30 
			 2004 1 31 32 
		
	
	
		Number of cyclists killed and injured
		
			 Year Killed Injured Total 
		
		
			 Essex County (excluding the Unitary Authorities of Southend and Thurrock) 
			 1995 2 520 522 
			 1996 6 516 522 
			 1997 2 525 527 
			 1998 1 542 543 
			 1999 1 473 474 
			 2000 5 437 442 
			 2001 5 394 399 
			 2002 5 344 349 
			 2003 4 348 352 
			 2004 4 356 360 
		
	
	
		Number of cyclists killed and injured
		
			 Year Killed Injured Total 
		
		
			 England and Wales 
			 1995 202 23,421 23,623 
			 1996 188 23,100 23,288 
			 1997 174 23,191 23,365 
			 1998 145 21,639 21,784 
			 1999 164 21,657 21,821 
			 2000 115 19,617 19,732 
			 2001 128 18,070 18,198 
			 2002 122 16,156 16,278 
			 2003 100 16,133 16,233 
			 2004 127 15,749 15,876

Cyclists

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many cyclists have been (a) injured and (b) killed in each of the last 10 years in road traffic accidents caused by passing a red traffic light.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not available.

Driver Vision

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to introduce a lesser sanction than removal of a driving licence for an individual who marginally fails the minimum standard of at least 120 degrees horizontal width in the visual field.

Stephen Ladyman: Where the prescribed standard for visual field is not met, there is already provision for the issue of a licence in exceptional cases supported by a favourable medical opinion.

Four-wheel Drive Cars

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of cars owned in (a) Kingston and Surbiton, (b) South West London, (c) London and (d) England; and what percentage of these cars he estimates are four-wheel drive.

Stephen Ladyman: The numbers of cars licensed at the end of December 2004 in the areas for which information is available are:
	(a) Kingston and Surbiton46,000
	(b) London2,523,000
	(c) Great Britain27,028,000
	Local figures are not available but, of new cars registered in 2004, 6.99 per cent. were 4-wheel drive (figures derived from SMMT data).

Learner Drivers

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many refunds have been given to purchasers of the Complete Official Learner Driver packs; how many more he expects to issue; and what the total cost has been.

Stephen Ladyman: We have provided one refund, and sent replacement DVDs to three people free of charge.
	We do not expect demand for refunds to be significant, given that we are offering a replacement disc. DSA's publishing activities are commercially self-funding. Providing refunds and replacement DVDs represents no direct cost to the public.

Learner Drivers

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Complete Official Learner Driver packs have been withdrawn from sale; and at what cost.

Stephen Ladyman: All sales of the Learning to Drive DVD to retail outlets were suspended following the discovery of the error. DSA's publishing activities are commercially self-funding. Replacing stock represents no direct cost to the public.

Maximum Driving Times

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adherence of foreign drivers in the UK to EU regulations on maximum driving times.

Stephen Ladyman: The enforcement of drivers hours legislation is carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA). The outcomes of VOSA's enforcement activities are included in an annual Effectiveness Report which is available on their internet site.

Mini-Motos

Jim Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to introduce to prevent the use of miniature motorcycles (mini-motos) on public highways.

Stephen Ladyman: New measures are not necessary. It is for the courts to provide an authoritative interpretation of the law, but the Department's view is that it is already illegal to use vehicles which are not compliant with road traffic law on public highways. Powered vehicles (whether internal combustion or electric) are motor vehicles within the meaning of the Road Traffic Act 1988 as amended. Any powered vehicle used on the public highway must comply with all aspects of road traffic law, including construction requirements, registration, road tax, insurance etc. The rider/driver should hold an appropriate licence and, where required, wear a suitable helmet.
	Enforcement is a matter for individual Chief Officers of Police. Powers under the Police Reform Act 2002 allow a constable in uniform, after giving a warning, to stop and seize a motor vehicle if he/she has grounds for believing that it is being used in a careless and inconsiderate manner, or being driven illegally off-road, or being used (or is likely to be used) in an antisocial manner causing harassment, alarm or distress.
	I understand that that the packaging on powered items such as miniature motorcycles generally includes a warning that they are not for highway use. However it may be that, once such packaging is discarded, this is overlooked or ignored. My Department is working with the Home Office to consider how advice reminding purchasers and others of this issue might usefully be disseminated.

Motorway Advertising

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with motoring and road safety organisations on the impact of advertisements situated next to motorways.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has not had any recent specific discussions with motoring and road safety organisations on the impact of advertisements situated next to motorways.

Motorway Advertising

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the police about advertising boards in fields adjacent to the motorway network.

Stephen Ladyman: My Department has not had any recent specific discussions with the police about advertising boards in fields adjacent to the motorway network.

Pedestrian Crossings

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria the Highways Agency takes into account before a decision is taken to install a pedestrian crossing.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency has adopted the advice provided by the Department for Transport in Local Transport Note 1/95: The Assessment of Pedestrian Crossings.
	Factors taken into account include:
	the widths of carriageways and footways
	surroundings, including lighting, accesses, side roads, street furniture, and the visibility for drivers and pedestrians
	vehicle and pedestrian flows and composition, including the proportion of children and elderly people, and the proportion of heavy goods and public service vehicles
	the accident record.
	There are three types of crossings:
	1. A pedestrian refuge island is the minimum provision and can be used on roads with national speed limit.
	2. Light signal controlled Pedestrian crossings are for heavily used roads and can be used wherever the speed limit is 50 mph or less.
	3. Zebra Pedestrian crossings minimise delays to pedestrians but should only be used with moderate vehicle flows on roads with a 30 mph speed limit or less.
	The choice of crossing will consider pedestrian delays and difficulty in crossing, vehicle delays, vehicle speeds, costs and local representation.

Railways

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects existing rail services at stations on the (a) Hastings to Charing Cross and (b) Bexhill to London lines to be maintained at their current level.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 4 July 2005
	There are no current plans for significant service changes between Hastings and Charing Cross until December 2009. Bidders for the Integrated Kent Franchise have then been asked to make bids based on the service pattern set out as follows. For Bexhill passengers travelling to London Victoria via the Brighton Main Line, there is a proposal in the Strategic Rail Authority's draft Brighton Main Line Route Utilisation Strategy that would increase capacity on the Main Line, but would require passengers from Bexhill to change trains at Eastbourne or Polegate.
	
		Table: Services arriving in London in the 3 hour morning peak
		
			  Current service Change to service in December 2009 
			  Charing Cross Cannon Street Charing Cross Cannon Street Net change (all trains) 
		
		
			 High Brooms 9 3 +3 1 +2 
			 Tunbridge Wells 9 3 +3 1 +2 
			 Frant 4 3 1 3 2 
			 Wadhurst 5 4 +1 2 1 
			 Stonegate 4 3 1 3 2 
			 Etchingham 5 4 2 2 None 
			 Robertsbridge 4 3 1 1 None 
			 Battle 5 4 +1 2 1 
			 Crowhurst 4 3 1 3 4 
			 West St. Leonards 4 3 1 3 4 
			 St. Leonards Warrior Sq. 5 4 +1 2 1 
			 Hastings 5 4 +1 2 1 
			 Ore 2 0 2 None 2

Railways

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department will fund the fitting-out of the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of fitting-out the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement on the current industry estimates;
	(3)  who owns the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how much public money has been invested so far in the (a) construction and (b) planning of the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The box which has been built for the planned Thameslink Midland Road station is intended to be fitted out by Network Rail as part of the Thameslink 2000 project, for which statutory powers and funding arrangements have yet to be settled. The Government remains committed to completing the station, estimates the cost of the fit-out and associated track and signalling work to be around 60m, and is looking further at the options for completing the work in advance of Thameslink 2000.
	The Secretary of State for Transport owns the freehold of the Thameslink box and has agreed to grant a long lease (999 years) to Network Rail.
	The station box was financed by London and Continental Railways (LCR) as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project (CTRL). It is not possible to separately identify that element of Government support for the CTRL project that has been expended on the Thameslink box.

Renewable Transport Fuels

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to set annual targets towards achieving a 5.75 per cent. market share for renewable transport fuels by 2010.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government are currently conducting a feasibility study into the prospects for a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation as a mechanism to promote renewable fuels into the long-term.

Renewable Transport Fuels

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce a renewable transport fuels obligation; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government are currently considering whether an obligation might be an appropriate mechanism to support the introduction of renewable road transport fuels, but no decision has yet been taken.

Road Improvements

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the road improvement schemes managed by the Highways Agency in (a) the Kent, East and West Sussex area and (b) England in each year since 1991; what the cost of each scheme was; and which schemes are awaiting action.

Stephen Ladyman: A table showing all Highways Agency major schemes, either completed, currently on site or in preparation, that have been taken forward since 1994 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The Highways Agency does not retain cost information for schemes completed before its creation in 1994.

Road Tax

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has carried out into alternatives to road tax.

Stephen Ladyman: Decisions on fiscal policies are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who keeps all forms of taxation under review. Officials in this Department provide advice as necessary to HM Treasury officials on the potential impacts of a number of transport tax policies.
	The Government in 2003 commissioned a feasibility study of road pricing, published in 2004.
	In line with our manifesto commitment, we are currently examining the long-term potential for moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing.

Road Tax

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of non-payment of road tax.

Stephen Ladyman: A system of Continuous Registration (CR) was introduced on 1 January 2004. The registered keeper of a vehicle is now responsible for licensing it until DVLA has been notified that it is off the public road or has been sold, transferred, scrapped or exported. DVLA issues 80 penalties (40 if paid within 28 days) to the registered keepers of those vehicles that have been unlicensed for two consecutive months.
	DVLA seeks to clamp the vehicles of persistent evaders. The Agency has a permanent wheel clamping operation based in larger vehicle population location, supported by mobile teams operating in rural areas. DVLA aims to clamp 100,000 unlicensed vehicles this financial year. Those evaders who have ignored the CR process will be specifically targeted. In addition, the Agency has partnership agreements with 64 local authorities and five 5 police forces to use DVLA's devolved powers to clamp and impound unlicensed vehicles.
	The Agency works closely with the police forces using Automated Number Plate Readers. The police can stop those vehicles that are unlicensed for enforcement action to take place.
	DVLA has introduced a telephone hotline number that members of the public can call to report unlicensed vehicles.

Road Tax

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles using the roads which have not paid road tax.

Stephen Ladyman: Estimates of vehicle excise duty evasion are determined by national roadside surveys undertaken by DfT statisticians. The latest survey took place in June 2004 and estimated that the total number of unlicensed vehicles was 1.2 million. This compares with 1.9 million in the previous (2002) survey.

Road Traffic Accidents

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents have been caused by loads breaking free of cargo trucks in each month since January 2003; how many of these resulted in one or more fatalities; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department's Personal Injury Road Accident Database records, for each reported accident, whether a dislodged vehicle load in the vicinity of the accident formed a carriageway hazard. The table shows the number of reported accidents for which such a hazard was recorded. It cannot be determined whether the load forming the hazard broke free from a cargo truck, or whether the load caused the accident.
	
		Number of Injury Road Traffic Accidents in the United Kingdom where a dislodged vehicle load in the carriageway was a hazard(10): by month from January 2003
		
			 Month Fatal Accidents All Accidents 
		
		
			 2003   
			 January 0 29 
			 February 0 29 
			 March 1 31 
			 April 0 27 
			 May 0 29 
			 June 0 46 
			 July 0 21 
			 August 0 30 
			 September 0 35 
			 October 0 28 
			 November 0 26 
			 December 0 20 
			 Total 1 351 
			 2004   
			 January 0 19 
			 February 0 16 
			 March 0 19 
			 April 0 21 
			 May 0 30 
			 June 0 31 
			 July 0 25 
			 August 0 36 
			 September 0 37 
			 October 0 26 
			 November 0 20 
			 December 1 17 
			 Total 1 297 
		
	
	Source:
	Department for Transport and Police Service of Northern Ireland
	Note:
	(10) These figures do not include accidents where the vehicle load which formed a carriageway hazard was dislodged as a result of the accident in question or a previous accident.

Road Transport Fuels

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what percentage by weight of road transport fuel was comprised of (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) compressed natural gas in the last 12 months;
	(2)  what percentage by weight of UK road transport fuel is expected to be comprised of biofuels by the end of (a) 2005 and (b) 2010;
	(3)  what incentives are in place for motorists to use (a) biodiesel and (b) bioethanol;
	(4)  what incentives are in place for motorists to use (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) compressed natural gas.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government incentivises the use of biofuels and road fuel gases primarily by means of fuel duty incentives, as set out in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Alternative Fuels Framework, published in the November 2003 pre-Budget report. Current and historic duty rates for all road fuels are published on the website of HM Revenue and Customs. The current duty rates for biofuels and road fuel gases are as set out in table 1.
	
		Table 1: Fuel duty rates as at 29 June 2005
		
			 Fuel Fuel duty rate 
		
		
			 Ultra-low sulphur petrol 47.1 pence per litre 
			 Ultra low sulphur diesel 47.1 pence per litre 
			 Liquefied petroleum gas (11)9 pence per kg 
			 Compressed natural gas (12)9 pence per kg 
			 Biodiesel 27.1 pence per litre 
			 Bioethanol 27.1 pence per litre 
		
	
	(11) Equivalent to c.5.4 pence per litre.
	(12) Equivalent to c.6.1 pence per litre.
	The Government have also, until recently, provided grants to help meet the additional purchase or conversion costs of certain clean and alternatively fuelled vehicles. These grant programmes are currently under review pending state aid clearance from the European Commission.
	Current and historic sales figures for all road transport fuels are also published on the website of HM Revenue and Customs. Provisional figures for biofuels and road fuel gases for the financial year 200405 are as set out in table 2.
	
		Table 2: Sales of road transport fuels in 200405
		
			 Fuel Sale by volume (million litres) Sales by mass (kilotonnes) Approximate percentage of total by mass 
		
		
			 Ultra Low Sulphur Petrol 26,561 19,549 51.1 
			 Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel 22,304 18,557 48.5 
			 Total road fuel gases (Liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas)(13) (14)225 (15)c.1103 0.3 
			 Biodiesel 21 18 0.05 
			 Bioethanol 14 11 0.03 
		
	
	(13) Figures not available separately, but at least 95 per cent. of this is likely to be LPG.
	(14) Million litres at standard storage pressures.
	(15) Assuming a 95/5 per cent. split between LPG and CNG.
	Sales of biofuels have risen sharply since the beginning of 2005 with the introduction on 1 January of the 20 pence per litre fuel duty incentive for bioethanol. By the end of 2005, sales of biofuels are likely to comprise at least 0.3 per cent. of total road transport fuel sales by volume, or 0.32 per cent. by mass. This is in line with the target that the UK has set under the EU's Biofuels Directive, and would represent at least a five-fold increase over sales in 2004.

Roads

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his Department's planned road building programmes, broken down by county.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department's planned road building programme consists of motorway and trunk road schemes in the Highways Agency Targeted Programme of Improvements and schemes that this Department has fully approved or provisionally accepted for funding, subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures and the conditions set out in the relevant approval letters. A list of schemes that fall within these categories, by county or unitary authority, have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Roads

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which road schemes that have been proposed by local authorities in England in local transport plans will affect (a) sites of special scientific interest, (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty, (c) national parks and (c) internationally designated sites; and in each case whether a preferred route has been announced.

Stephen Ladyman: In view of the number of road schemes involved, the information could be assembled only at a disproportionate cost.

Roads

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which completed road building programmes have affected designated (a) sites of special scientific interest, (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (c) national parks in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: Since 1997 we have completed over 118 Highways Agency and Local Highway Authority major road schemes outside London which cost over 5 million. The table identifies those schemes that impact on (a) sites of special scientific interest, (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (c) national parks.
	
		
			  Road scheme Completion year (a) Site of special scientific interest (b) Area of outstanding naturalbeauty (c) National park 
		
		
			 A13 Thames Avenue to Wennington 199798 Rainham Marshes SSSI   
			 A564 Derby Southern BP and Derby Spur 199798 Hilton Gravel Pit SSSI   
			 M25J810 Widening 199798  Surrey Hills AONB  
			 North of Stratton-Nettleton Improvement 199798  Cotswold AONB  
			 Latton Bypass 199798  Cotswold AONB  
			 A34 Newbury Bypass 199899 Snelsmore Common SSSI   
			 M66 Denton-Middleton Contract I 200001 Hollingwood arm of Ashton Canal SSSI   
			 M66 Denton-Middleton Contract III 200001 Rochdale Canal SSSI   
			 A27 Polegate Bypass 200203  Adjacent to Sussex Downs AONB  
			 A2/M2 Cobham to Junction 4 Widening 200304 Shorne and Ashen Bank Woods and Cobham Woods SSSI   
			 A41 Aston Clinton Bypass 200304  Chilterns AONB  
			 M6 Toll 200304 Chasewater Heath SSSI and River Blythe SSSI   
			 A120 Stansted-Braintree Improvement 200405 Landtake from corner of one ancient woodland SSSI (unnamed)   
			 A34 Chieveley M4 J13 Improvement 200405  Within Chilterns/North Wessex  Downs AONB  
			 A10 Wadesmill Colliers End 200405 Near Plashes Wood SSSI   
			 A21 Lamberhurst Bypass 200405  Within High Weald AONB  
			 South Stockton Link Road (Substantially complete) 2005
			 A617 Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route 2004 (16)   
			 Wyre Piddle Bypass 2002 (17)   
			 Burntwood Bypass Staffordshire 2005 (18)   
			 Broome-Ellingham Bypass (Norfolk) 2002   (19) 
		
	
	(16) Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route affected Fowlevil Brook which runs into Rainworth Lake SSSI. However, measures were taken to ensure the water quality in the brook was not affected (and hence the SSSI was not affected either) so I have assumed this does not need to be included.
	(17) Wyre Piddle Bypass in Worcestershire was completed in 2002. Although the bypass did not affect any SSSIs, AONB or national parks, it did affect Piddle Brook, a site of special wildlife interest.
	(18) While the scheme avoided direct affect on the adjacent SSSI's, it skirted the boundaries of the Biddulph Pool and No Man's Heath SSSI and the Chasewater Heaths SSSI.
	(19) The Broome-Ellingham Bypass affected the area of the Norfolk Broads, which has the status but not the designation of a national park, and this was taken into account when the scheme was considered and approved.

Roads

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) accidents and (b) fatalities were recorded on the A253 between (i) Hastings and Bexhill and (ii) Bexhill and Pevensey with particular reference to King Offa Way, Bexhill, in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the following table. Accidents and fatalities occurring on King Offa Way are not included as part of the figures for the section between Bexhill and Pevensey.
	
		
			  Section between Hastings and Bexhill Section between Bexhill and Pevensey King Offa Way 
		
		
			 (a) Accidents on the A259: 19972004  
			 1997 45 30 3 
			 1998 42 32 8 
			 1999 43 24 10 
			 2000 23 22 7 
			 2001 29 18 5 
			 2002 32 33 8 
			 2003 42 22 9 
			 2004 32 28 10 
			 
			 (b) Fatalities on the A259: 19972004  
			 1997 1 1 0 
			 1998 0 0 0 
			 1999 1 0 0 
			 2000 0 1 0 
			 2001 0 1 0 
			 2002 0 0 0 
			 2003 1 0 1 
			 2004 0 0 1

Roads

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many private contractors have traffic cones which they can use to block road lanes; how many cones are in the possession of (a) private contractors, (b) emergency services and (c) others; and what system his Department operates for the distribution and return of cones.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department for Transport does not collect information about the number of private contractors who have traffic cones that they use to block road lanes or how many cones are in the possession of private contractors, the emergency services and others.
	On the trunk road and motorway network the distribution and returning of traffic cones is a matter that is left to individual contractors.
	The Highways Agency's Traffic Officers have a number of cones that are stored in their vehicles for their use while patrolling the network and dealing with broken down vehicles and providing mobile and temporary road closures. The Traffic Officers collect these cones after use.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much he has allocated to the (a) improvement and (b) maintenance of the (i) A127 and (ii) A13 in the Southend area in each of the next three financial years.

Stephen Ladyman: Funding for the maintenance and minor improvement of A127 and A13 is included within the block allocation made to Southend-on-Sea borough council under Local Transport Plan procedures. The firm allocation for FY 200506 is 1.622 million and the provisional allocation for FY 200607 is 1.707 million. Improvements to the A13 public transport corridor are included in an LTP major scheme and the council's application for further funding is currently under consideration by my Department.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras are situated on (a) the A127 between the M25 and Southend and (b) the A13 between the M25 and Southend; and what plans there are to install new speed cameras in the next two years.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not held centrally by the Department. The location and number of all safety camera sites within the national safety camera programme are available on the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk. Further site specific information will be available from the Essex Safety Camera Partnership who can be contacted via their website at www.essexsafetycameras.co.uk.

Roads

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) minor and (b) serious road accidents occurred on the A127 between the M25 and Southend in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is in the table.
	
		Minor and serious accidents on the A127 between theM25 and Southend
		
			  Serious accidents Slight accidents 
		
		
			 2000 35 204 
			 2001 38 209 
			 2002 22 182 
			 2003 32 185 
			 2004 28 172

Safety Cameras

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there are in England and Wales, broken down by borough; how much money has been raised in fines, broken down by borough, since the installation of each camera; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: For information on the number of fixed and mobile speed camera sites broken down by partnership, I refer to my answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 61719W.
	The Department's information on fines following offences detected by safety cameras relates to the totals for safety camera partnerships, and not to individual camera sites or boroughs. Information on the total fine receipts and number of fines for each partnership for the last audited year 200304 is available on the Department's website of responses to Freedom of Information requests.

Safety Cameras

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras are situated on each side of the road on the A102 between the A11 and the A13.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today (UIN 9915).

Traffic Accidents

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 537W, on traffic accidents (London), if he will set out the equivalent figures for the London borough of Sutton in 1985.

Stephen Ladyman: There were 12 fatal accidents and 800 injury accidents in the London borough of Sutton in 1985.

Traffic Calming

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has evaluated on the effects of traffic calming measures on (a) reducing speed and (b) preventing accidents.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department has commissioned an extensive programme of road safety research covering a wide range of topics, including the development and evaluation of a variety of traffic calming measures designed to reduce vehicle speeds and road accidents. These evaluations have helped to develop guidance and best practice which is set out in Traffic Advisory Leaflets and other publications.
	The Department's Traffic Calming Bibliography, Traffic Advisory Leaflet 2/05 published in January this year, lists the main items of published advice and research into the design, use and effectiveness of traffic calming measures. Copies of this leaflet have been placed in the House Library.
	A Local Transport Note on Traffic Calming is being drafted. This will summarise existing information on the design and effectiveness of traffic calming measures. The Department hopes to publish this Local Transport Note later this year.

Traffic Management Act

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to lay regulations under section 6 (Civil Enforcement of Traffic Contraventions) of the Traffic Management Act 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 620W.

Traffic Statistics

Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effect on (a) carbon dioxide and (b) other exhaust pollutants of the 25 foot turning circle of London taxis.

Stephen Ladyman: None. Transport for London is the Licensing Authority for taxis in London. They are undertaking a review of the requirements for London licensed taxis, including the turning circle.

Traffic Statistics

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons plans to upgrade the A14 around Kettering have been put back from 2012 to 2016 to 2017 to 2021.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency is currently developing a scheme to improve the A14 around Kettering. The Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands, published in March 2005 gives the implementation date for this scheme as between 2017 and 2021. The implementation date is the time at which the road is open to traffic and the start of construction will be two-three years prior to this. This is in line with the Secretary of State's announcement on the multi-modal study in July 2003 although the precise timing of the scheme will be subject to availability of funding and satisfactory completion of statutory procedures.

Transport Infrastructure

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on transport infrastructure needs in (a) London, (b) Kent and (c) Surrey.

Karen Buck: Transport in London is primarily the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). In October 2004, TfL published a five year, 10 billion investment programme designed to delivery infrastructure improvements through to 2010.
	For Kent and Surrey, the county councils and the unitary authority for the Medway area assessed local transport infrastructure needs in the Local Transport Plans (LTPs) that they produced in 2000. Over the past five years, the Department has allocated 150 million for expenditure in Kent and 124 million for Surrey to support delivery of local schemes. These figures cover local authority capital expenditure on major projects (costing over 5 million) and on programmes of smaller schemes, but they exclude expenditure on rail schemes and on Highways Agency schemes on its motorway and trunk road network.
	Local transport authorities outside London are due to submit new provisional LTPs, covering the 20062011 period, to the department by the end of July 2005, with final versions following by the end of March 2006.

Vehicle Registration

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles on the roads which are not registered to their owners.

Stephen Ladyman: The Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science estimated that, in 2004, there were some 0.5m vehicles in use that, while taxed, were not registered to their current keepers. DVLA's own database of vehicles for which there is no current keeper contains some 2.9m records, both taxed and untaxed. Whilst the majority of these vehicles will no longer be on the road (but DVLA has not been notified that they have been scrapped), DVLA makes the database available to police forces for use in conjunction with their Automatic Number Plate Reader system.

Vehicle Registration

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles were reported to the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency via V28 forms in each year since 199697.

Stephen Ladyman: The form V28 is used by local authorities and other enforcement agencies to notify DVLA of abandoned vehicles. The numbers of vehicles reported in this way were as follows:
	
		Notifications of abandoned vehicles
		
			 Year Abandoned vehicles 
		
		
			 199697 11,533 
			 199798 14,267 
			 199899 19,529 
			 199900 42,589 
			 200001 75,291 
			 200102 130,854 
			 200203 161,304 
			 200304 128,043 
			 200405 121,173

Vehicle Registration

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) applications and (b) renewals were processed by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of Driver Licence applications received by DVLA are:
	
		
			  First applications Renewals 
		
		
			 200001 727,117 1,017,113 
			 200102 840,663 1,045,751 
			 200203 923,422 1,121,416 
			 200304 971,316 1,161,611 
			 200405 978,462 1,205,102

Vehicle Registration

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average time taken to process (a) applications and (b) renewals at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea was in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: In 200405, 98.4 per cent. of the 978,462 first applications for a driving licence were processed by DVLA within eight working days (date of receipt at the Agency to date of delivery to the customer's address). This bettered the target set for processing 98 per cent. of first applications within eight working days.
	In the same period 98 per cent. of driving licence renewals were processed by DVLA within 10 working days which met the target set for the Agency for this transaction.

Vehicle Registration

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints were received regarding problems in the processing of applications and renewals at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of driver licence processing time and procedures complaints are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200001 312 
			 200102 213 
			 200203 243 
			 200304 326 
			 200405 231

TREASURY

Births

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many babies were born in (a) England and Wales and (b) the Southend area, broken down by maternal age in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many were under (i) 2,500g and (ii) 3,000g in each case.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 7 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking, how many babies were born in (a) England and Wales and (b) the Southend area, broken down by maternal age: and how many were under (i) 2,500g and (ii) 3,000g in each case, in each of the last five years for which figures are available. I am replying in his absence. (9944)
	Figures covering live births to women resident in England and Wales, for the years 2000 to 2004, are given in the attached table.
	
		Total number of live born babies by maternal age and selected birth weight to women resident in Southend andin England and Wales, 200004
		
			  England and Wales Southend 
			  Total number Under 2,500g Under 3,000g Total number Under 2,500g Under 3,000g 
		
		
			 2000   
			 Under 20 45,833 4,251 13,346 172 20 49 
			 2024 107,705 8,973 30,010 334 21 84 
			 2529 170,607 12,203 40,509 515 42 125 
			 3034 180,022 12,413 38,854 563 34 123 
			 35+ 99,963 7,840 22,636 295 18 62 
			 Total 604,130 45,680 145,355 1,879 135 443 
			
			 2001   
			 Under 20 44,178 4,159 13,252 146 13 40 
			 2024 108,806 9,001 30,630 387 13 91 
			 2529 159,861 11,573 38,592 503 33 118 
			 3034 178,817 12,338 39,489 552 40 131 
			 35+ 102,698 8,012 23,526 316 19 50 
			 Total 594,360 45,083 145,489 1,904 118 430 
			
			 2002   
			 Under 20 43,460 4,117 13,257 142 18 40 
			 2024 110,928 9,559 31,790 349 32 98 
			 2529 153,328 11,233 37,650 472 26 105 
			 3034 180,465 12,681 40,159 587 37 125 
			 35+ 107,733 8,328 24,811 341 30 83 
			 Total 595,914 45,918 147,667 1,891 143 451 
			
			 2003   
			 Under 20 44,228 4,259 13,601 135 9 34 
			 2024 116,581 9,840 33,131 396 30 108 
			 2529 156,882 11,499 39,011 483 35 110 
			 3034 187,150 12,967 41,855 551 45 118 
			 35+ 116,410 8,966 26,900 346 25 90 
			 Total 621,251 47,531 154,498 1,911 144 460 
			
			 2004(20)   
			 Under 20 45,033 4,163 13,493 123 10 37 
			 2024 121,077 9,954 33,770 386 43 109 
			 2529 159,914 11,701 39,473 490 22 94 
			 3034 190,365 13,322 42,795 590 34 124 
			 35+ 123,120 9,408 28,416 355 28 85 
			 Total 639,509 48,548 157,947 1,944 137 449 
		
	
	(20) Provisional

Carbon Capture and Abatement Technologies

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide additional tax and financial incentives to (a) promote the development of carbon capture and abatement technologies and (b) support the development and construction of carbon capture and abatement plants.

John Healey: As the Chancellor announced in the Budget, the Government are examining how it might support the development of carbon capture and storage within the Climate Change Programme Review, including the potential for new economic incentives. Carbon capture and storage is also eligible for funding through the 25 million Carbon Abatement Technology strategy launched by the Minister for Energy on 14 June.

Cost Recovery

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 28 June 2005, Official Report, column 1424W, on cost recovery, what advice his Department has given to the NHS on reaching agreement with hospices on levels of service and prices reflecting the full cost of services provided in relation to (a) adults and (b) children.

Ivan Lewis: Treasury has worked with the Department of Health to embed in the NHS principles set out in the 2002 Treasury Cross cutting review of the role of the voluntary and community sector in service delivery. These apply equally when government funds any service delivered by the voluntary sector, including adults' and children's hospices: (a) working towards agreed levels of service with providers; (b) ensuring that the price for the agreed level of service reflects the full cost of the service to be provided, including the legitimate portion of overhead costs; and (c) achieving this by coming together in partnership with the sector in a compact-compliant manner. More detailed guidance on implementing the principle of full cost recovery will be published in a revised version of Guidance to Funders by the end of the year.

EC Officials

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average pension is of each grade of retired European Communities official; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: This information is not available.

Government Debt

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects on debt servicing costs if the Government refinanced its debt of 10-year maturity or longer at the same 10-year interest rates paid by (a) Greece, (b) Italy and (c) Spain.

Ivan Lewis: The Government issues gilts at a range of maturities in order to fulfil its commitment to long-term minimisation of debt servicing costs while taking account of risk. The Government issues gilts in economic conditions that differ from those faced by the Eurozone countries when issuing in euros. Therefore, it would not be meaningful to base the costs of financing the Government's borrowing needs on Eurozone interest rates. In particular, the UK economy is growing more rapidly than the Eurozone and is, therefore, at a different point in the interest rate cycle. It would also be misleading to compare debt-servicing costs based on financing borrowing through 10-year bonds only because this would not take account of the range of maturities and yields at which governments issue bonds.

Government Debt

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the level of long-term interest rates (or bond yields) paid by the Government on their debt with a maturity of 10 years or more; and what assessment he has made of the level of such rates in comparable countries.

Ivan Lewis: The main factors underlying the level of gilt yields are: (i) the level of short-term interest rates; (ii) investor demand for gilts of different maturities; and (iii) market expectations about macroeconomic factors such as future inflation and interest rates. The Government issue gilts (denominated in sterling) in economic conditions that differ from those of other sovereign issuers (for example the United States that issues in dollars or Eurozone countries that issue in euros). In particular, the UK economy is growing at a different rate from the Eurozone and US economies and is, therefore, at a different point in the interest rate cycle. It would not be meaningful to assess the costs of financing the Government's borrowing needs by looking at the level of interest rates in other countries.

Hypothermia

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths linked with hypothermia there were in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Essex and (f) the Southend area of those aged (i) 60 to 64 years, (ii) 65 to 79 years, (iii) over 80 years and (iv) all ages in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Amess, dated 7 July 2005
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths linked with hypothermia there were in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) England, (c) Scotland, (d) Wales, (e) Essex, and (f) the Southend area of those aged (i) 60 to 64 years, (ii) 65 to 79 years, (iii) over 80 years, and (iv) all ages in each of the last five years. I am replying in his absence. (9910)
	Available information relates to the number of deaths where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate. The latest year for which these figures are available is 2004. Figures for the areas requested are given in the attached table, for each of the years 2000 to 2004.
	
		Deaths with a mention of hypothermia(21)on the death certificate, for the United Kingdom by area,(22) 2000 to 2004(23)
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 (a) United Kingdom  
			 (i) 6064 14 16 15 10 12 
			 (ii) 6579 105 91 51 43 58 
			 (iii) 80 and over 183 155 121 101 108 
			 (iv) All ages 374 344 255 217 222 
			   
			 (b) England  
			 (i) 6064 7 12 12 8 8 
			 (ii) 6579 82 70 40 32 44 
			 (iii) 80 and over 154 123 98 86 85 
			 (iv) All ages 300 250 195 180 167 
			   
			 (c) Scotland  
			 (i) 6064 7 3 1 2 2 
			 (ii) 6579 15 12 5 6 6 
			 (iii) 80 and over 20 18 15 9 13 
			 (iv) All ages 49 60 32 22 30 
			   
			 (d) Wales  
			 (i) 6064 0 1 1 0 2 
			 (ii) 6579 5 6 3 2 4 
			 (iii) 80 and over 4 6 5 4 7 
			 (iv) All ages 13 18 14 7 14 
			   
			 (e) Essex  
			 (i) 6064 0 0 0 0 1 
			 (ii) 6579 3 4 0 1 0 
			 (iii) 80 and over 1 4 4 1 1 
			 (iv) All ages 7 10 6 2 2 
			   
			 (f) Southend  
			 (i) 6064 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (ii) 6579 0 0 1 0 0 
			 (iii) 80 and over 1 0 0 0 2 
			 (iv) All ages 2 0 1 0 2 
		
	
	(21) Deaths with a mention of hypothermia defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code N991.6 for the year 2000 for England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code T68 for Scotland from 2000 to 2004, and for England and Wales and Northern Ireland from 2001 to 2004.
	(22) Deaths of usual residents for these areas.
	(23) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year and are provisional for Northern Ireland.

Poverty Reduction

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce poverty in persons aged over 65 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of people's livesincluding their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment and not just low income. The Department for Work and Pensions Opportunity for all report sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of measures.
	However, 200304 data show nearly 2 million pensioners have been lifted out of absolute low income since 1997. Compared with the 1997 system, in 200506, as a result of the Government's measures including the pension credit, pensioner households will be on average 29 a week better off while the poorest third of pensioner households will be on average 39 a week better off.
	Alongside a 7 per cent. real increase in the basic state pension, winter fuel payments and free television licences, pension credit has been key to this increase in income. Pension credit which now pays over 6 billion a year to our poorest pensioners, guaranteeing a minimum income of 109.45 a week for single pensioners and 167.05 couples (over age 60). 2.7 million pensioner households (3.3 million individuals) were receiving pension credit at end March 2005. The Government are committed to increasing the guarantee credit element of pension credit by earnings next year and in the next spending round 200608.

Public Borrowing

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he calculates the start and end points of the economic cycle; when, for the purposes of calculating the golden rule, the current economic cycle (a) started and (b) is expected to finish; and when his Department estimates that the next economic cycle will start.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury's transparent and consistent methodology for dating the cycle uses a wide range of survey and other information and is explained in Trend Growth: Recent Developments and Prospects published alongside Budget 2002 and Fiscal Policy: Public Finances and the Cycle published alongside Budget 1999. The most recent Financial Statement and Budget Report 2005 (HC 372) gave an assessment of when the current cycle is judged to have started and is expected to end.

Science Investment

Brian Iddon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the projected figures for increasing public investment in scientific research set out in the 2004 Spending Review are contingent on increases in investment by the private sector; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The 10-year Science and Innovation Investment framework set out the Government's intention to increase investment in the public science base at least in line with the trend growth rate of the economy through the 10-year period, increasing science spending as a proportion of GDP.
	However, the Government's overall ambition is that overall levels of R and D in the economy should reach 2.5 per cent. of GDP.
	The 10-year framework recognised that this scenario represents a considerable challenge for both Government and UK business, which can only be achieved if the Government's commitment to invest substantially in the science base is matched by the private sector and leading charitable funders, and in particular that it is clear that private sector R and D funding is on a new and growing trajectory.

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to prevent accountancy firms selling aggressive tax avoidance schemes from securing contracts awarded by his Department.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government will continue to award contracts in accordance with procurement procedures. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 391W.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the proportion of overpaid tax credits for 200304 which so far have been written off; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 96W.

Tax Credits

Iris Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) the total amount of tax credit payments claimed in Northern Ireland since their introduction, (b) the total amount of overpayments, (c) the value of overpayments which have been written off and (d) the value of overpayments retrieved is.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the total amount of tax credits entitlement, broken down by country and region, appear in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Awards 200304.Geographical analyses.
	The numbers of tax credits awards where there was an underpayment or overpayment at 5 April 2004 following finalisation also appear in the publication Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised 200304. Supplement on payments in 200304. Geographical analyses.
	The estimates in both these publications are based on samples and are subject to significant sampling uncertainty. These publications can be found on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
	Information about the amounts written off is not available at a regional level.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of the tax credits system against targets set for it over the period March 2003 to June 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of the Inland Revenue's performance against their tax credits targets for 200304 were published in their annual report and accounts in October 2004, and can be found on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/reports.htm.
	The spring departmental report 2005, which can be found at the same address, gives progress against the targets in 200405. The Department will publish final results for 200405 in its annual report, which will be available on its website at www.hmrc.gov.uk.
	The results for April and May 2005 will be covered in the 200506 annual report when that is published.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will list the management information collected on a regular basis and reported to Ministers on the tax credit system.

Dawn Primarolo: I hold regular meetings with senior officials responsible for the delivery of tax credits at which I ask for various types of information.
	Section 40 of the Tax Credit Act requires the Board of Inland Revenue, now HM Revenue and Customs, to make an annual Report to the Treasury about tax credits. Section 40(2) requires the Treasury to publish the annual Report and lay a copy before both Houses.

Tax Credits

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people have been notified of overpayments of tax credits since 5 May;
	(2)  how many people received overpayments of tax credits before 5th May.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 4 July 2005
	Almost all families whose 200304 awards were overpaid at finalisation had been notified of this by 5 May 2005.
	Overpayments are not identified until awards are finalised after the end of the financial year. For 200405 awards, this process is currently under way. Therefore estimates of numbers of overpayments or underpayments for 200405 awards at 5 April 2005 will not be available until after family circumstances and incomes for 200405 have been finalised. The most recent estimates available for the net amount paid in tax credits and the net amount of overpayments is for awards at 5 April 2004 based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304. They appear in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits Annual statistics. 200304 Payments. The estimates are based on samples and are subject to significant sampling uncertainty.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints about tax credits have been made to HM Revenue and Customs in each of the last three financial years.

Dawn Primarolo: For 200304 and 200405 (the first two years of the new tax credits), I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 15 June 2005, Official Report, columns 39495W.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed to work for the tax credit helpline, broken down by where staff are based in the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: The following table shows the staff numbers in full time equivalents (FTE) employed to work on the tax credit helpline by UK location at the end of May 2005.
	
		
			 UK location Staff numbers (FTE) 
		
		
			 May 2005  
			 Belfast 100 
			 Peterlee 600 
			 Livingston 300 
			 Merry Hill 350 
			 Dundee 600 
			 Bathgate 650 
			 Newcastle 600 
			 Total 3,200

Tax Credits

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress made in recovery of overpaid tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: No estimates of recovered overpayments can be made until the departmental accounts for 200405 have been prepared and the trust statement published.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he intends to introduce a statutory test for recovery of overpaid tax credits; whether the test will include an independent right of appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 26 May 2005, Official Report, column 802, on tax credits.

Tax Credits

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are employed within Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs to handle complaints relating to tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: At 28 May 2005 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) had nearly 400 full-time equivalent staff working in the Tax Credit Office handling tax credit complaints. These staff also deal with compensation in accordance with complaints and redress procedures explained in the Department's Code of Practice 1: Putting things right.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) total value of excess tax credit payments and overpayments where there was no disregard of income rises of up to 2,500 in (i) 200304 and (ii) 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him 4 July 2005, Official Report, column 98W. The 2,500 disregard applies to all tax credit awards.

VAT (New Build Projects)

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from charitable organisations which zero-rate the VAT on new build projects and have an unfunded future liability for the repayment of the VAT should the use of the new building be changed at a later date.

Dawn Primarolo: In the last year a small number of letters from charitable organisations and hon. Members have been received by Treasury Ministers about the VAT zero rate for the construction of certain charity buildings. Zero-rating applies to the construction and sale of new buildings intended to be used by charities solely for a qualifying purpose. This qualifying purpose must be either use for non-business purposes or use as a village hall or similar.
	If the building is put to a non-qualifying use within 10 years of completion of the building, the VAT originally saved must be repaid to HM Revenue and Customs. However, the full amount of VAT saved will only be repayable if the use changes in the first year following completion. Otherwise, the VAT repayable is adjusted according to the number of complete years of qualifying use that have elapsed.
	As a concession, minor non-qualifying use of a building can be disregarded.
	Officials are examining the issues arising from this in certain circumstances.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits (Dundee)

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were in receipt of (a) incapacity benefit, (b) jobseeker's allowance, (c) income support and (d) income support for lone parents in (i) Dundee West and (ii) Dundee East (A) in the most recent year for which figures are available and (B) one year previously.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the tables.
	
		Number of incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (SDA) claimants in the parliamentary constituencies of Dundee East and Dundee West at February 2004 and February 2005
		
			  IB/SDA IB SDA 
		
		
			 February 2004 
			 Dundee East 4,800 4,000 800 
			 Dundee West 5,000 4,300 700 
			 
			 February 2005
			 Dundee East 5,000 4,200 800 
			 Dundee West 5,000 4,400 700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2. Claimant figures include all incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance (including incapacity benefit credits-only cases).
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. Samples.
	
		Jobseekers allowance (JSA) and income support (IS) claimants in the Parliamentary constituencies of Dundee East and Dundee West at February 2004 and February2005
		
			 As at February each year All JSA All IS IS lone parents 
		
		
			 Dundee West
			 2004 2,000 4,300 1,500 
			 2005 2,100 4,200 1,500 
			 
			 Dundee East
			 2005 2,300 4,400 1,500 
			 2004 2,300 4,200 1,400 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. IS claimants may also be in receipt of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance.
	3. All IS category includes IS lone parents.
	4. JSA figures include claimants receiving Nil benefit, (ie. those receiving national insurance credits only).
	5. IS lone parents are defined as single claimants with dependants not receiving the disability or pensioner premium.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples.

Earnings-Related Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 260W, on earnings-related pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost (a) in real terms and (b) as a percentage of GDP of pension credit if income taken into account for pension credit is assumed to increase (i) in line with price growth and (ii) halfway between price and real earnings growth in (A) 2010, (B) 2020, (C) 2030, (D) 2040 and (E) 2050.

Stephen Timms: The requested information is in the following tables.
	Estimated costs,  billion, 200506 prices:
	
		
			   Pension credit income increasing with prices Pension credit income increasing midway between prices and earnings growth 
		
		
			 2010 9.8 9.6 
			 2020 16.7 15.0 
			 2030 30.0 25.4 
			 2040 49.1 40.1 
			 2050 71.5 57.2 
		
	
	Estimated cost as a percentage of GDP:
	
		Percentage
		
			   Pension credit income increasing with prices Pension credit income increasing midway between prices and earnings growth 
		
		
			 2010 0.7 0.7 
			 2020 0.9 0.8 
			 2030 1.4 1.2 
			 2040 1.9 1.5 
			 2050 2.2 1.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Both tables provide figures on a UK basis.
	2. Figures are consistent with published projections.
	Source:
	DWP projection models

Financial Assistance Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the pension schemes expected to be eligible for the Financial Assistance Scheme, broken down by parliamentary constituency in which the company's headquarters is located.

Stephen Timms: We published a list of pension schemes that are potentially eligible for help from the Financial Assistance Scheme on 22 February. The list was compiled from information provided by trustees and administrators during our data collection exercise at the end of last year. We asked for scheme specific information including the name of the scheme, trustee contact details, and the date scheme wind up commenced.
	Information on the location of each scheme's sponsoring employer was not collected as part of the exercise and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time between an initial personal capability assessment for claimants of incapacity benefits and a follow-up assessment has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) sex, (b) age and (c) medical condition.

Anne McGuire: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Frank Field, dated 7 July 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the average time between an initial Personal Capability Assessment for claimants of incapacity benefits and a follow up assessment has been in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) sex, (b) age and (c) medical condition. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Information about the average time taken between initial personal capability assessments and follow up assessments is not recorded centrally.
	Re-referral is based on the advice of a Medical Services doctor. The doctor's advice is based on the likely improvement in the person's condition over a 3 to 18 month period. Where the doctor considers the condition is unlikely to change significantly in the longer term, cases will be looked at again at a later date, normally within 3 to 5 years.

Pension Credit

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the Lanark and Hamilton, East constituency are in receipt of the pension credit; how much they receive on average; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The information is not currently available. Information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards in each constituency at 31 March 2005 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 20 June. A copy of the report is in the Library. The next progress report, with information as at the end of June, will include the new constituencies which came into being at the general election.

Pension Credit

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients there are of pension credit in Cardiff, North constituency; and what the average award is.

Stephen Timms: Information on numbers of households and individuals in receipt of pension credit and average awards in each constituency at 31 March 2005 is contained in the most recent quarterly pension credit progress report, which was published on 20 June. A copy of the report is in the Library.

Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the effect on projected expenditure for the basic state pay as you go pension if all those currently contracted out from the state scheme were to return for the next (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30, (d) 40 and (e) 50 years.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 5 July 2005
	While there would be an impact on future state pension expenditure if those currently contracted out were to contract back in, it would be on the state second pension and not the basic state pension. The effect of such a move is shown in the table.
	
		Annual increase in state second pension expenditure that would arise if everyone contracted back into the state scheme
		
			  Annual increase to S2P ( million) 
		
		
			 201516 400 
			 202526 2,700 
			 203536 9,400 
			 204546 15,700 
			 205556 21,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The estimates show the effect on state second pension expenditure in the selected years if contracting-out of the state second pension were abolished from April 2006.
	2. Estimates are for Great Britain only, not UK, and are consistent with the December 2004 update of the Government Actuary's Quinquennial Review of the National Insurance Fund.
	3. Figures are expressed in 200506 price terms and are rounded to the nearest 100 million.
	4. Figures given are for specific years, rather than the range of years, and do not reflect the total increase for each year in between.
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department.

Social Security Office (Aberystwyth)

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the proposed closure of the social security office in Aberystwyth upon delivery of his Department's services; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what timetable has been set for the proposed closure of the social security office in Aberystwyth.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie to Mr. Mark Williams, dated 7 July 2005
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the proposed closure of Aberystwyth Social Security Office. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	I know that David Anderson, the former Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, wrote to you on 11 May, about our proposed changes to service delivery in Aberystwyth. In his letter David set out in detail the background to these changes and the benefits that the new integrated Jobcentre Plus service would bring to our customers.
	We have considered the effects on service delivery and expect that through the better use of IT and telephony we will be making our services more accessible than ever. The new integrated service will be delivered from the site of the current Jobcentre, and the enhanced Personal Adviser service for customers on Incapacity Benefit and Income Support, will enable us to increase the help we offer to some of our most disadvantaged customers.
	In terms of timescales, we currently plan to introduce the new service in Aberystwyth by the end of this year. At this point, although the Social Security Office will close to the public, we will continue to process benefits at this site until the work is eventually transferred to our Benefit Processing Centre in Llanelli.
	We have not set a date for the closure of the Social Security Office as detailed planning for the transfer of Benefit Processing work is still continuing. However, nationally, we aim to complete the migration of this work to our network of Processing Centres by March 2008 and as local timescales become known, I have asked Pam Sutton, the Jobcentre Plus District Manager for West Wales, to ensure that you are kept fully informed.
	I hope this is helpful.

Training and Enterprise Council Pension Schemes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether approaches have been made to the (a) Pensions Protection Fund and (b) Financial Assistance Scheme in respect of former Training and Enterprise Council pension schemes;
	(2)  whether applications have been made to the (a) Pensions Protection Fund and (b) Financial Assistance Scheme in respect of any former Training and Enterprise Council pension schemes.

Stephen Timms: No.